If we take some of the smaller but important, elements of this idea of "engagement" and we try to influence that portion of the student engagement process, can we improve engagement?  It is clear that many (myself included) believe instructors can influence the engagement of students.  So the question becomes how?  What can we change or do to influence it?  And how will we know if our efforts made a difference? Can we measure any aspect of engagement?

 Activity One-

I suggest we look now at three aspects to engagement: interest, participation, and relationship.  Can we influence these aspects of engagement?  Go to this google document and add your ideas for teacher influence over these characteristics of engagement.  Think about whether the student response (interest, participation, or relationship) could be measured or not, and in what ways.  Add those thoughts to the third column.

 ActivityTwo-

Go back to the list created in Week 2B.  Pick other single aspects of engagement to add to the google document and attempt to flush out how it can be influenced and whether the influence could be measured in some way.

Discussion-

Use the comment feature to discuss this idea of taking the parts of engagement and creating changes in the learning environment to address a single aspect of engagement.  Do you think addressing aspects of engagement could be a way to achieve improved student engagement?  Why or why not?