Secondary teachers’ conceptions of student engagement in learning: A phenomenographic analysis

2 September 2008

4.15pm to 5.15pm

Venue: J2 Lecture Theatre, 74 Epsom Avenue, Epsom Campus

Presenter
Dr Lois Harris - Visiting Fellow
School of Teaching, Learning & Development

Abstract
Increasing student engagement is seen by many educational stakeholders as a way to improve school completion rates, student behaviour, and pupil academic performance.

However, as a highly contested meta-construct, more conceptual clarity is needed for it to be useful. This seminar explores the disagreement within academic literature about what it means for students to be engaged and presents data from a phenomenographic study showing how Central Queensland teachers understand this contested topic.


Biography
Lois Harris is a post-doctoral research fellow collaborating with Dr. Gavin Brown on the MTAP (Measuring Teachers’ Assessment Practices) Project. This seminar reviews her doctoral work on student engagement in learning and is based on presentations delivered at AERA in 2008.