
Engaged in the Learning Process

Students who are engaged in the learning process have the following
characteristics:
- Responsible for Learning. Students take charge of their own
learning and are self-regulated. They define learning goals and problems
that are meaningful to them; understand how specific activities relate
to those goals; and, using standards of excellence, evaluate how well they
have achieved the goals. Successful, engaged learners also have explicit
measures and criteria for assessing their work as well as benchmark activities,
products, or events for checking their progress toward achieving their
goals.
- Energized by Learning. Engaged learners find excitement and
pleasure in learning. They possess a lifelong passion for solving problems
and understanding ideas or concepts. To such students, learning is intrinsically
motivating.
- Strategic. Engaged learners continually develop and refine learning
and problem-solving strategies. This capacity for learning how to learn
includes constructing effective mental models of knowledge and resources,
even though the models may be based on complex and changing information.
Engaged learners can apply and transfer knowledge in order to solve problems
creatively and they can make connections at different levels.
- Collaborative. Engaged learners understand that learning is
social. They are able to see themselves and ideas as others see them, can
articulate their ideas to others, have empathy for others, and are fair-minded
in dealing with contradictory or conflicting views. They have the ability
to identify the strengths and intelligences of themselves and others.
info@ncrel.org
Copyright © North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer and copyright information.