Engaging student in learning process requires instructors and tutors to identify some fundamental facts such as: students learning needs; potential challenges; and to construct a concise teaching plan to address these concerns carefully. Further, today’s students seem to need to connect and communicate continuously and want their educational environment to support that inclination. In other words, Parsons, Taylor, (2011 p.33) mentioned that students want to be engaged in learning, but on their own terms. As we know many students feel more comfortable to seek help from their tutors as they are very close to each other in age group. Therefore, TAs needs to understand this new trend as TAs play a central role to engage all students in learning process and help them to keep focus and enjoy it!). …show more content…
In other words, what works for one is not necessarily works for other. For instance, Barkley (2010) notes that there is no sole technique or strategy that provides a magic recipe or outline for student engagement.
According to Newman (1992 p.12) student engagement occurs when "students make a psychological investment in learning and try hard to learn what school offers.” Thereafter, Engaged students take superiority not only in earning the formal indicators of success, but also in understanding the material and communicate what they learn with their teacher and contribute with their own reflection. In my experience I can tell whether or not my students understand and fully engaged in our tutorial by capturing their responses, eyes contacts and other feedback indicators.
Here are some practical strategies in engaging students which I have experienced throughout my TAs experience at Carleton