Student Engagement Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty 1st Edition

As a math teacher, I am extremely interested in improving student learning and success. Elizbeth Barkley's techniques are focused on practical strategies that can readily assist the instructor and emphasizes the importance of how students learn. It also provides precise steps in addition to 50 tips to execute student engagement and active learning. This book also offers a solid discussion of the research on learning that supports the concept of student engagement. Assisting students on how to develop learning strategies that result in improved content retention should be the goal of any teacher. Barkley suggests three conditions that lead to increased engagement. The first is a sense of classroom community. Second is that students should be working at their optimal level of challenge which is neither too hard nor too easy. Third, that students learning holistically. I am enthusiastically considering implementing these techniques. Barkley includes 50 learning activites and strategies for increasing motivation, promoting active learning, building community, helping students learn holistically, and ensuring students are appropriately challenged. The book is full of practical advice and ideas for teachers who are striving to increase student engagement and learning supported by research. It is well organized and accessible. Student Engagement Techniques is an important and useful guide for any teacher interested in improving student learning. Gayle Venegas, Math Teacher, San Jacinto USD

In Student Engagement Techniques Elizabeth F. Barkley provides an impressive set of tips and strategies for teachers to use to engage students. While designed for college faculty, the book can also be useful for K-12 teachers as well. It is divided into three parts. Part one provides a conceptual framework for understanding student engagement. Part two includes 50 tips and strategies to foster motivation, promote active learning, build community, ensuring that students are appropriately challenged and promoting holistic learning. The last section covers a set of 50 specific student engagement techniques in eight areas:1. Knowledge, skills, recall and understanding;2. Analysis and critical thinking;3. Synthesis and creative thinking;4. Problem solving;5. Application and performance;6. Attitudes and values;7. Self-awareness as learners;8. Learning and study skills.The book also includes several useful appendices and references. I highly recommend it as a valuable source for finding ways to engage students in an academic setting.

I am a college teacher and after reading this book I have changed my way of teaching, and my students are loving my lessons :)

I have started my summer reading with this book. I enjoyed revisiting why do teachers reward students for doing what is necessary to pass a class? I being one of those teachers who liked the bonus points approach after these long years am admitting, it is not really working. I am the key to this as the teacher. I have been thinking the material and content is the reward. This book will help me support that approach. Engagement of a diverse student population is necessary these days and the book seems to be full of ideas. Some such as the Jeopardy section are rehash but it gave me another idea for a student activity just rereading the section. Have fun.

The book was more than I expected. It was informative and interesting. A whiole new take on teaching!!

Every dedicated college professor would love to be able to create a collaborative classroom which engages students in a significant learning experience, balancing motivation and active learning. The question is how. Elizabeth Barkley's book is a tremendous resource to help teaching professionals meet those goals. It is clear, practical and has a wide range of scenarios and solutions for every type of classroom. I am excited to begin applying these strategies immediately to simple problems as well as more complex ones. I found the discussion of ways to facilitate student development of learner-centered strategies particularly useful. I suspect this book will become a well-worn resource in my own teaching as I work toward transforming my classroom into a more dynamic learning environment.

Even us, experienced teachers, can do with a refresher of motivation from time to time and a wonderful book on how to pull your students to you - this book is. It does say for college students but think the ideas go beyond that and the book is one that today's more cognitively capable kids could benefit from.Important to note that the book was published in 2010. It does address online learning and blending face-to-face learning in obvious, but necessary ways.Easy to read

This is an excellent book! Everyone wanting to help students learn the material they need to know to become active, productive members of society (regardless of the discipline) should purchase, READ, and USE THE SUGGESTIONS in this book. The author provides research to support her contention that college and university educators should employ student engagement techniques in their classes (not a new concept for most, if not all, K-12 teachers). This author also provides some excellent ideas and plans for application. As a professional educator, I highly recommend this book for all college and university educators as well as high school teachers.