Engaging the learner: A framework for sustainable teaching

Engagement of learners is often viewed by all stakeholders as vital in educational processes. If students are not "engaged" then are learning opportunities diminished? Engagement is, however, widely multi-faceted and not all forms support authentic learning. For instance, it could be encouraged at the superficial level (the "wow" factor) where deep processing of content is absent, or on the opposite end of the learning spectrum, through deep engagement where students are meaningfully participating in their own learning. This chapter explores how teachers might authentically engage their -students, at all levels from early childhood through to postgraduate levels, to encourage this deep learning. This chapter reports on a study that used an educational framework, a Content Representation (CoRe), with practicing primary and secondary science classroom teachers (n = 6). Findings from the study revealed that the CoRe focussed these teachers to explore and connect their content knowledge with appropriate teaching strategies that would enhance deep student learning. The teachers claimed that the CoRe enhanced their professional knowledge in ways that would authentically engage students in learning and meaning-making.