Engaging Students: Promoting Mutual Support and Exploration

Prenskey (2005) asserted that a major problem within education is not that the information being taught lacks "relevance" to students lives, but that there is a lack of engagement with educational tasks. When attempting to engage classes, tutors are aiming to draw students into learning activities--to involve them--and thus promote active learning over and above the passive absorption of information which can dominate classes. This article discusses a number of factors that can be considered to promote engagement in class interactions. The author addresses the issue of student diversity and explores some ideas in how to promote engagement through choice.