How to Improve Student Engagement

In this episode of the Cool Cat Teacher Talk Show we explore how to engage students in learning with hands-on, playful and project based learning strategies. Additionally, we discuss the importance of “the hook” and ideas for engaging students into learning from the moment they come to class. For those who think that we need to get kids ready for the “real world,” David Gann discusses the importance of play in an uncertain world from a business perspective and what the research says about the importance of play and business success. We also talk about the neuroscience of why kids can’t stop moving and how movement helps engage all students. This action-packed episode is full of ideas (according to our early-release listeners) so get a pen and paper handy and enjoy.

Today’s guests talking about engaging students include:

• Dave Burgess, author of Teach Like a PIRATE
• Occupational therapist, Suzanne Creswell
• Nancy Frey, Acceleration Research Expert
• David Gann, author of The Playful Entrepreneur
• Dr. Jennie Nash head of education impact for LEGO Education
• Educator Eric Sheninger, author of Personalize
• Zest Simmons, Alabama State Teacher of the Year 2018-2019

Watch the Episode:

This episode will premiere on YouTube on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

Full Podcast Episodes with Guests:

We are including interviews from our top episodes of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast. If you’d like to listen to the full interview with these guests, here are the links and information on those episodes.

Dave Burgess

Suzanne Cresswell

• Episode 244
• February 1, 2018
• “Why Kids Can’t Stop Moving: The Neuroscience Behind a Student’s Need to Move”
• www.coolcatteacher.com/e244 

Nancy Frey

David Gann

• Episode 449
• February 27, 2019
• “Why Playful Learning is So Important in the Classroom and the Real World”
• www.coolcatteacher.com/e449 

Dr. Jenny Nash

Eric Sheninger

Zest Simmons

Time-Stamped Show Notes:

00:00 – 00:18 – Introduction
Vicki Davis introduces the show and the topic of student engagement.

00:19 – 01:26 – Interview with Dr. Jennie Nash from Lego Education Play-Based Learning in Schools
Dr. Jennie Nash discusses the importance of hands-on learning and how playful education can transform student outcomes. Dr. Nash highlights new research showing that play-based learning boosts student engagement, and addresses common misconceptions about play in education.

01:27 – 02:25 – Research on Student Engagement
Dr. Nash shares statistics from the State of Engagement Report, where 35% of administrators note that students are not engaged, leading to issues such as absenteeism and behavior problems. She stresses the importance of active learning to combat these issues.

02:26 – 03:50 – Game-Based Learning and AP Computer Science
Vicki shares her experience with game-based learning in teaching AP Computer Science and how it improved her students’ outcomes.

03:51 – 04:45 – Project-Based Learning for Older Students
Dr. Nash discusses how project-based learning helps older students solve real-world problems and engage in learning beyond the classroom.

04:46 – 06:53 – Purposeful and Intentional Play
The conversation shifts to purposeful play in education and how engagement strategies help teachers weave play and learning together to reach educational goals.

06:54 – 07:10 – Key Findings from the Engagement Data
Dr. Nash shares that students prefer play-based learning and how incorporating it into classrooms boosts both engagement and academic outcomes.

07:11 – 09:12 – Playful Learning and Real-World Applications
David Gann, author of The Playful Entrepreneur, talks about how play fosters innovation in uncertain environments, and how these principles can be applied in education.

09:13 – 11:25 – Innovation Through Play-Based Learning
David Gann explains how play-based learning fosters a culture of innovation and problem-solving among both students and entrepreneurs.

11:26 – 13:18 – Play and Resilience in Education
David Gann discusses the importance of resilience and purposeful play for students facing uncertainty in their learning journey.

13:19 – 15:12 – Engagement in Classrooms Around the World
Eric Sheninger joins the conversation to discuss his experiences with student engagement globally and how innovative learning strategies lead to more engaged classrooms.

15:13 – 17:03 – Compliance vs. Engagement
Eric Shannon Jr. emphasizes the need to move from compliance-based learning to active and engaged learning and offers tips on how to do so.

17:04 – 18:30 – Relevance and Real-World Learning
The discussion turns to how making learning relevant to students’ lives increases engagement, including Eric’s relevant thinking framework for educators.

18:31 – 20:50 – Global Examples of Engaged Learning
Vicki and Eric share global examples of schools using student-centered, real-world projects to create engaging learning environments.

20:51 – 23:00 – The Role of the Hook in Student Engagement
Dave Burgess, author of Teach Like a Pirate, joins the discussion and shares why “the hook” is a crucial part of engaging students in learning from the moment they enter the classroom.

23:01 – 25:20 – Encouraging Teachers to Take Risks
Dave Burgess encourages educators to step outside their comfort zone and try new methods to boost classroom engagement and improve student outcomes.

25:21 – 27:33 – Personal Stories of Engagement
Vicki shares personal experiences of stepping out of her comfort zone in the classroom to engage her students, even when it didn’t go perfectly.

27:34 – 29:00 – Movement and Brain Breaks for Student Engagement
Occupational therapist Suzanne Creswell explains the neuroscience behind why students need movement to stay engaged in learning.

29:01 – 31:05 – Flexible Seating and Unique Learners
Suzanne Creswell discusses the benefits of flexible seating and how different types of learners require unique strategies to stay engaged.

31:06 – 33:22 – Creating Active Learning Spaces
The importance of creating classrooms that cater to students’ sensory needs, allowing them to learn more effectively through movement and active participation.

33:23 – 35:10 – Conclusion
Vicki wraps up the episode with a call to action for teachers to focus on improving student engagement through innovation, feedback, and purposeful play.