The Power of Peers: How Peer Work Influences Student Engagement
Major
Educational Studies
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Educational Studies
Faculty Advisor
Leah Nillas
Abstract
Abstract: Student engagement is one of the foundations of any classroom. If the students are not engaged with the lesson at hand, then they may not fully grasp the content being taught. Engagement is not just participation it is emotional investment, behavioral involvement, and cognitive effort. Students are often put into groups and partners as a way of engaging with the content with their peers before they are asked in front of the class. In many middle school classrooms, teachers use group work and partnerships as a way to increase interaction and encourage community and classroom engagement. This study focuses on 20 sixth grade students in Social Studies and Language Arts classes and examines how structured peer collaboration influences student engagement. Appleton, Christenson, and Furlong (2008) propose that too many students are unmotivated and disengaged in school, emphasizing the importance of fostering engagement to improve their academics. Using this framework, the purpose of this study was to determine whether intentionally designed activities increased students' engagement in the middle school classroom. The results of this study highlight the critical role engagement plays in student achievement and classroom success.
The Power of Peers: How Peer Work Influences Student Engagement
Abstract: Student engagement is one of the foundations of any classroom. If the students are not engaged with the lesson at hand, then they may not fully grasp the content being taught. Engagement is not just participation it is emotional investment, behavioral involvement, and cognitive effort. Students are often put into groups and partners as a way of engaging with the content with their peers before they are asked in front of the class. In many middle school classrooms, teachers use group work and partnerships as a way to increase interaction and encourage community and classroom engagement. This study focuses on 20 sixth grade students in Social Studies and Language Arts classes and examines how structured peer collaboration influences student engagement. Appleton, Christenson, and Furlong (2008) propose that too many students are unmotivated and disengaged in school, emphasizing the importance of fostering engagement to improve their academics. Using this framework, the purpose of this study was to determine whether intentionally designed activities increased students' engagement in the middle school classroom. The results of this study highlight the critical role engagement plays in student achievement and classroom success.