The Importance of Communication in Education

Effective communication in education matters across the entire school environment, just as effective communication is important for success in everyday life. Whether it is communication between teachers and students or overall school communications from teachers, principals or administrators to parents and caregivers, good communication in schools runs across the school ecosystem. It establishes an environment where teachers, administrators, parents and students are able to work together to support student success. With that being said, this article more closely examines communication in the classroom from the perspective of the classroom learning environment and the teacher-student relationship. 

Good Communication and a Positive Learning Environment

Just as communication is fundamental to fostering positive human relationships, it is also important in fostering a positive learning environment in the classroom. Through communication, humans process meaning and exchange thoughts, ideas, feelings and opinions with each other. By helping create a positive learning environment, good communication helps students feel comfortable and safe to express their thoughts, ideas, opinions and feelings. This dialogue with their teachers and amongst their peers allows for students to ask questions and express themselves without the risk of being judged, retaliated against or laughed at. This is vital for student learning and development. 

Good Communication Skills and the Teacher-Student Relationship

Building strong teacher-student relationships can help students learn and grow. The foundation of those relationships is what all good relationships are based on–good communication and trust. Establishing good communication in the classroom helps build that sense of trust between the classroom teacher and their students. It creates a supportive teacher-student relationship, which according to studies done at the University of Missouri’s Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology, creates a number of positive impacts including student motivation, participation, engagement and achievement. The lead researcher in the study, Christi Bergen, says that the study found that “students tend to be more motivated to learn and be engaged in the classroom when their teacher likes and cares about them.” 

From a developmental perspective helping students establish good communication skills is also vital to a successful educational journey and beyond. This fact is another reason why communication in education is so important.

Experiencing positive student-teacher relationships is important throughout a student’s educational journey, but, according to several academic studies that measure the effects of a good student-teacher relationship on pre-school students, it is especially essential early in a student’s education because it builds a foundation for future educational expectations. 

The Importance of Effective Communication Skills for Teachers

Communication with kids can have the same complications as communication between adults. There can be misunderstandings and unintentional missteps that can lead to negative outcomes. The goal is for teachers to reduce these misunderstandings and missteps in order to create that positive learning environment discussed earlier in this article.

Classroom management is an essential component to establishing a learning environment that can build trust and respect between students and their peers and between students and their teachers. Good communication skills are the building blocks of effective classroom management. Improved communication can help minimize frustration and stress and make a space where students are inspired to learn their best.

Several studies conducted over the last 20 years show how an interactive, nurturing and engaging learning environment can raise a student’s motivation for learning, which can be a key factor in raising a student’s academic achievement. By raising a student’s motivation, employing and teaching good communication skills in the classroom can create more productive classrooms and help pave a path for student success.

Strategies to Create Effective Communication in the Classroom 

Effective communication between teachers and students can sometimes be a challenge. Learning and applying strategies to improve class communication can go a long way in creating a positive dialogue between students and teachers. These strategies are also helpful in addressing different personalities and learning styles that inevitably make up a classroom. Not everyone expresses themselves the same. Working within a communication structure that supports clear and consistent communication but also allows students to be comfortable in their self-expression can go a long way in establishing good teacher student relationships. Effective communication also includes body language, eye contact, keeping personal spaces and moving about to vary interest and keep student’s attention.

Some effective teacher student communication strategies include:

• Active listening
• Positive feedback
• Open communication
• Using different communication methods
• Peer to peer communication
• Open and safe learning environment 

Employ Active Listening

Listening is essential to communication. We often think of listening as hearing, but that is not necessarily the case. Listening attentively and with purpose means we make space to be more conscious of the act of listening. We listen to not only glean a speaker’s intent, but reflect on what they are saying and be able to deal with the knowledge we have gained. An active listener makes eye contact with the speaker and gives them their full attention, which in turn motivates the speaker to continue to express themselves. Employing active listening allows students to express their thoughts, but also feel their thoughts are heard and valued. 

Learning to use and demonstrate active listening skills enables you to:

• Offer better assistance to students
• Improve instruction
• Build better relationships and understanding within the classroom
• Allow better peer connection

Emphasize Positive Feedback

Building your communication skills for teacher student interactions that emphasize positive feedback can go a long way toward creating a productive learning environment. 

Emphasizing positive feedback means:

• Focusing on what students have done well, not only what they have gotten wrong
• Demonstrating and rewarding positive behavior instead of punishing negative behavior
• Pointing out what students accomplished before showing them how to improve
• Directing attention to building skills over time than getting it right the first time

This emphasis on the positive sticks with students instead of constantly pointing out what they got wrong, which can cut off a student’s motivation. In addition, knowing what you got right gives you something to build from. This emphasis on improvement can motivate students to continue working and learning because they feel they are on the right track. Framing feedback as something to work on and not something that was wrong helps students believe they can accomplish a task and builds that supportive learning environment along the way.

Emphasizing positive feedback can also be demonstrated in the classroom by making space for you as the teacher to get feedback from your students. Ask them how you can improve? Ask them what you got right? Ask them to help you become a better teacher. This can show that you appreciate and value student opinion and show students that you are a life-long learner and want to continue to improve also.

Concentrate on Open Communication

Open communication means that everyone in the classroom space is able to express their ideas with one another instead of a lecture style where the teacher is doing all the talking and students are expected to remain quiet. Learning to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings and opinions is a part of developing as a human being. This takes time and often includes building your confidence to do so. The more open communication is in the classroom the more confident students become in their own communication with both their teacher and their peers. 

One way to do this is to offer open-ended questions to students. An example of this is asking students questions about a book they have read. A closed question would be to ask where the book was set. An open-ended question would be to ask how you think the setting affected the way the characters interacted with each other. This gives students the freedom to express their ideas and thoughts. 

But do not stop there, the next step is to employ a tactic of asking a probing series of linked questions where students can further elaborate on their ideas, thoughts and opinions. This may include asking about how the setting affected each of the characters differently, and then more questions about how those actions made the story more interesting. This helps as well to sustain dialogue between students, especially if you have them discuss their opinions in pairs or small groups.

This all works to build student confidence for both learning and communicating. In addition, setting up learning activities that encourage collaboration helps students build their confidence with each other as well. Collaborating in pairs or in small groups for discussions and projects allows students to build transferable skills through peer communication and navigating group dynamics.

Confidence building can also be done through:

• Thought-provoking tasks that include idea sharing and problem solving
• Projects and assignments that engage critical thinking skills
• Offering choices where students can voice their needs and interests, but also challenge their skills 

Refine the Use of Different Communication Methods

Communicating with students in a clear, consistent and productive way can take practice. Not all students will want to express themselves and reluctant learners are members of every classroom. Allowing for different forms of expression, not only speaking, but writing and drawing as well, can help make the classroom more inclusive to different types of learners and communicators too.

Establishing ground rules and setting a routine within the classroom also sets up clear expectations for students and builds effective communication in the classroom. It also gives you an opportunity to communicate with students using different methods, verbal, written and visual.

Having students take an active part in establishing ground rules can be beneficial too. Ask them what rules would help show respect in the classroom or what rules would be helpful in staying on task or doing their best work. Write the rules down so they are visible. You can even make the visual representation a class project. Creating a set routine for the classroom can also be done in a similar way. 

The key is to form multiple communication channels throughout the day to build an ongoing teacher student dialogue. Varying the mode of communication can also enhance student engagement, encourage different forms of expression, and give everyone a chance to be heard.

One on one communication can also be effective, especially when addressing individual styles or issues. Allowing the door to be open and actively letting students know that is important, as is setting times where students can reach out or where you can set up the opportunity to talk with a student. Set some ground rules around one on one meetings, including goals, objectives and timing.

Other forms of communication opportunities that do not include speaking are:

• Reflective worksheets
• Feedback forms or emails
• Letters to the teacher
• Class blog posts
• Work checklists
• Hanging wall organizers or folders

Employ Peer to Peer Communication Opportunities

Encouraging peer to peer communication is also important in helping students learn to communicate with each other and not just the teacher. Engaging in collaborative or group activities within the classroom can help build peer to peer communication skills. 

The skills students need to employ for effective peer to peer communication is the same as setting up a positive learning environment. Demonstrating how to:

• Actively listen and asking students to employ that in their peer to peer activities
• Focus on the positive and set parameters for students to employ that method as well
• Ask open-ended questions and ask students to practice doing so in their small group exercises

The same process of setting up classroom ground rules can be done with setting up the guideposts for students to practice and employ good peer to peer communication skills.

Set Up a Safe and Open Environment

We covered how important a positive learning environment is to motivating student learning. Creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where students are engaged with learning, feel connected to the teacher and their peers, and are supported to learn and do their best is crucial to student success.

Active listening, positive feedback and an emphasis on confidence building all help create an environment where students feel comfortable in expressing their thoughts, opinions, ideas, perspectives, and feelings. They know they can ask questions and ask for help in a non-judgmental space where talking about what is important to them is accepted and valued. 

This open and safe environment also supports collaboration and encourages communication between students. They can actively learn to listen to one another and ask questions in a respectable and constructive way.

The specifics of applying these strategies may look different depending on the grade level that you are teaching, but whether you are building your skills for communication with elementary students, or middle or high school students, these strategies for communicating with students remain fundamentally the same. 

Good Communication in the Classroom Affects Good Learning Outcomes

Effective teacher student communication is fundamental to learning outcomes. Just as communication is key to so much you do as a human, so too is good communication in the classroom in supporting student success. Employing effective communication strategies as a teacher helps build strong student relationships and a positive learning environment. Both of which are fundamental to improving student motivation, participation, engagement and achievement. Establishing effective communication in the classroom is foundational to supporting student learning and growth for a successful educational journey and beyond.

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Why Does Educational Enrichment Matter?

As suggested, educational enrichment aims to enrich an already quality education. It goes beyond the standard school curriculum framework with the intent of providing additional learning opportunities for students, plus personal development, and skill enhancement. The following reasons underline why enrichment strategies should be implemented:

• Enabling Enhanced Learning Opportunities: By broadening students’ knowledge horizons while stimulating their curiosity levels, educational enrichment empowers students to explore subjects of interest more intensively. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving—all necessary abilities for success in today’s complicated world.
• Engagement: Whether in school or extracurricular settings, enrichment activities for children make learning enjoyable and thrilling. Higher levels of engagement have the potential to boost motivation, attendance, and general academic achievement.
• Accommodating Diverse Learning Styles: Every student has unique ways of grasping concepts, therefore, offering diverse teaching methods ensures individualized learning experiences. 
• Future Planning: Real-world exposure via enrichment programs can help students identify their passions. These encounters can inspire lifetime learning and better career decisions.

Programs for Educational Enrichment in Schools

The centers of educational enrichment are schools with the goal of enrichment programs to offer students a comprehensive and well-rounded, holistic education. These enrichment programs often take place during or after school hours and in many different forms like extra-curricular activities or special enrichment classes.

• Enrichment Classes: Enrichment classes tend to be optional courses or workshops focused on specific topics or skills not covered in standard curriculum. These classes can range from creative arts and sciences to robotics and coding. Give students the chance to explore their interests, learn new skills, and interact with like-minded students through enrichment classes.
• Extracurricular Activities: Activities including clubs, competitions, and tournaments typically are held outside of the classroom to encourage personal and social development. Along with academic progress, extracurricular activities enhance leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. A chess club, for instance, can be a great enrichment activity that fosters friendship among members while honing strategic thinking.

Academic Enrichment Activities to Engage Students

Participating in academic enrichment activities is essential for students’ overall educational experience and intellectual growth. The following list of academic enrichment activities can assist students in developing into more engaged and eager learners:

• Science Labs and Experiments: Science labs and experiments promote experiential learning. These hands-on learning opportunities can improve students’ comprehension of scientific ideas and cultivate a passion for the field. Science laboratory activities and experiments are usually introduced at different educational stages, beginning from primary school. They subsequently become more intricate as students advance through junior high and senior high schools.
• Math Competitions: To test students’ aptitude for mathematics and problem-solving techniques, hold math competitions or math clubs. Peer competitions can be enjoyable and motivating. Math competitions can start at the primary school stage, and continue further into secondary and high school levels. More complex contests are available for more mature learners.
• Reading Challenges: Start book clubs or reading challenges so that students can discuss their favorite books and delve into a variety of genres. Reading enhances language and comprehension abilities. Book clubs and reading competitions can be adapted to accommodate all educational stages, ensuring that the chosen books and subsequent conversations are suitable for each age group.
• Debates and Public Speaking: By planning debates and public speaking events, you can encourage critical thinking and effective communication. Students are encouraged to investigate, evaluate, and present their ideas as a result. Debates and public speaking can commence in the later years of primary school, persisting throughout secondary education.
• Computer Programming and Coding: Provide clubs or classes in these subjects. Coding abilities are extremely valuable in the modern digital world, as students can make their own websites and applications. Instruction in coding and programming can begin at the primary school stage and then advanced progressively through secondary and high school levels.
• Workshops on Creative Writing: Workshops on creative writing foster creativity. Students can develop their writing abilities and creativity by producing essays, poems, and stories. Workshops focused on creative writing can be adapted to cater to all educational stages, incorporating suitable literary exercises and styles that align with the age group.
• Workshops for Art and Craft: Take a look at the arts through these workshops. Students can express themselves visually and develop their fine motor and creative skills. Workshops focused on arts and crafts can commence at the elementary level, progressing through to middle school and high school. As students mature, they can undertake more sophisticated projects.
• STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Challenges: Practical tasks help students improve problem-solving abilities and help encourage creativity. The implementation of STEM tasks can occur at different educational stages, with the complexity of these assignments escalating as students progress.
• Model United Nations (MUN): MUN conferences and clubs help students understand global issues facing the world, and helps them hone in on their public speaking and international diplomacy-related soft-skills. The level of global subject matter discussed in Model UN activities tends to make them most appropriate for students at the middle and high school levels.
• Field Trips: Take your students on instructive outdoor field trips to historical sites, museums, nature preserves, or cultural events. Field trips offer hands-on learning opportunities and can pique interest. Educational excursions can be arranged for students of all ages, tailoring the places visited and educational goals to suit their developmental stage.
• Language Clubs: Create language clubs for students who want to practice their language skills or pick up a new language. These groups foster communication skills and cultural awareness. Language clubs can begin during the middle or high school years, at a time when students have developed proficiency in their mother tongue and exhibit an inclination towards mastering other languages.
• Peer tutoring programs: Encourage older students to serve as role models for younger classmates. This helps the students who are receiving assistance as well as solidifying the tutors’ expertise. Peer tutoring programs can begin during middle school and persist all the way through high school.
• Community Service or Volunteering: Encourage societal contribution while applying academic knowledge to real-life problems. Students across all academic stages have the opportunity to engage in community outreach or volunteer work, assigned tasks and projects that are suitable for their respective ages.
• Critical Thinking Games: Include board games, puzzles, and critical thinking challenges in the curriculum to improve students’ problem-solving and logical reasoning skills. Games that foster critical thinking can be implemented as early as elementary school, and progressively more complex versions of these games can be introduced throughout middle and high school.
• Workshops and Guest Speakers: Ask professionals in a range of fields to share their knowledge and perspectives. Particularly helpful are workshops on subjects like career planning and financial literacy, and are better suited for middle and high school students as they can greatly benefit from seminars and guest lectures on these subjects.
• Science Fairs: Organize science fairs or exhibitions to provide a platform for students to present their experiments and research. This promotes scientific investigation and communication abilities. Science fairs can occur in primary schools, extending through secondary and senior high school levels, with progressively intricate research projects being allocated to older students.
• Online Learning Platforms: To enhance classroom instruction, make use of online learning platforms and resources. These platforms provide educational games and interactive lessons. Online learning platforms can be implemented across diverse educational levels, offering content suitable for different age groups and engaging instructional materials.
• Student-Led Projects: To empower students to take charge of their education and encourage them to design and oversee academic projects that are based on their passions and areas of interest. Promoting student-driven initiatives is viable across all academic stages, with the necessary supervision and intricacy tailored to match their development.
• Mock Trials and Simulations: Run historical, business, or mock trials. These exercises enhance critical thinking abilities and offer a more profound comprehension of actual situations. Due to their intricate nature and demand for analytical thought, mock trials and simulations are generally appropriate for secondary school students.
• Programs for Career Exploration: Put in place initiatives that introduce students to a range of career options and assist them in making well-informed decisions regarding their future. Programs for career exploration can be initiated during middle school and sustained throughout high school, assisting students in making educated choices regarding their future.

Benefits of Enrichment in School and Who Gains From It

Educational enrichment benefits can vary across student types from high-performing individuals to those struggling with traditional teaching methods.

• Academically Advanced Students: Enrichment programs help prevent boredom among these students and help ensure they realize their full potential. These students could take part in challenging coursework, such as advanced science or math, therefore ensuring they reach their full potential.
• Students with Diverse Interests: Enrichment programs allow students to explore passion-related subjects not covered under standard curriculums. This often involves creative art activities such as painting, music, and theater. These activities promote creativity and self-expression.
• Students Who Struggle: By offering extra assistance and different teaching strategies, enrichment programs can also help students who struggle academically catch up with their peers. 
• Social and Emotional Development Promotion: Cooperation, leadership qualities, and resilience are developed through participation in these enrichment activities.  
• Future Success Preparation: One of the most important aspects of preparing students for the future is educational enrichment. Enrichment program experiences have the power to shape career decisions and foster a passion for learning that lasts a lifetime. Inspire students for a career in STEM or entrepreneurship through exposure to practical applications in initiatives such as robotics or entrepreneurial clubs.

School enrichment programs assist a broad spectrum of students by equipping them with the necessary tools for academic achievement, cultivating their interests, overcoming challenges, developing essential life skills, and starting a life-long journey towards personal development and career development.

Challenges and Considerations

While there are many benefits associated with educational enrichment, there are certain complexities which should not be overlooked:

• Equality: Prevent disparities in educational outcomes to ensure that all students have equal access to enrichment programs. Every student deserves equitable access to education regardless of their financial situation.
• Balancing Act: It can be difficult to find the ideal ratio between enrichment activities and the traditional curriculum. In addition to providing a solid foundation in core subjects, schools must make sure that students have access to enrichment opportunities.
• Resources: The ability to implement enrichment programs successfully may be hampered by a lack of funding or resources. To offer a wide range of activities, schools might need to look for grants or partnerships.
• Evaluation: Evaluating the effects of enrichment programs can be difficult since their advantages aren’t always easily measured by looking at test results. Necessitate more comprehensive evaluation methods that consider overall student development alongside growth metrics.

In conclusion, a vital and key aspect in defining modern-day education includes educational enrichment.  Enrichment classes, co-curricular activities, and after-school programs prove advantageous when catering to a diverse cohort of students, irrespective of skill level, while encouraging and promoting active participation and holistic personality development. With educational enrichment, we can enable well-rounded individuals ready for success in a world that is changing quickly by fostering their interests, abilities, and talents.

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What is STEM?

When we use the acronym STEM in education, we are referring to four subjects–science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In STEM education, these subjects are the core of the curriculum and are taught with a more comprehensive, cross-disciplinary approach. In other words, in STEM teaching, each of the four subjects are not meant to be taught separately. Instead, these subjects are taught through project-based learning.

This type of teaching method is based in practical learning, where students are challenged to actively apply their knowledge and explore real-world problems and challenges. Project-based learning promotes the building of the four C’s: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication. These four C’s are also considered 21st Century skills. 

In a STEM curriculum, students explore projects that strive to incorporate some or all elements of each of the four subjects into the project. This approach promotes the building of STEM skills, such as logical-mathematical, engineering-design and problem-solving as well as challenging students’ curiosity and creativity. 

Using these skills becomes integral to learning. Students learn to solve STEM-based problems and apply STEM disciplinary skills to STEM-based projects. 

Common STEM projects for elementary grade levels include basic computer programming, bridge building, robot design, building a homemade compass or a pipe pulley or hand crank winch using simple materials such as straws, string or paperclips. The possibilities are numerous to get students thinking and challenge their minds to solve problems. Engaging in these types of projects encourages students to apply aptitude within each subject discipline as well as problem-solving and critical thinking.

The goal of a STEM education is to build STEM skills to broaden STEM literacy and participation, which in turn can build career pathways for students towards filling STEM related roles in the workforce. 

What is STEAM?

The use of the acronym STEAM refers to the teaching of the four subjects of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) along with the added subject of arts, which can include both visual and performing art disciplines. STEAM education incorporates all the same elements of STEM but brings the arts into the mix. Adding the arts to STEM essentially jolts the creativity and innovation that STEM projects strive to achieve to a deeper, more comprehensive level.

Both STEM and STEAM education teach the four core subjects of STEM, but the addition of the arts into the teaching of these subjects elevates student learning by incorporating imagination, creativity, self-expression and out-of-the-box thinking into the curriculum. The approach is based on the thought that applying your imagination to problem solving is key to innovation, and since fostering the imagination is key to art, incorporating art into a STEM curriculum, therefore, promotes innovative thinking in students.

STEM subjects are based on applying the design/engineering method to projects, which include the process of brainstorming, design, test and redesign. This process adheres to a more objective framework with the goal being to solve the problem for an end user. The success of the project is based on the objective result of how well it solves the problem. 

The arts, on the other hand, are based on the more subjective framework of aesthetically expressing an idea, thought or feeling. STEM may include subjective decisions, but ultimately the framework is that of solving a problem. In the arts there is not only one answer on how to represent an idea, thought or feeling and the answer from each individual on how well they expressed it is subjective.

Proponents of STEAM advocate for the addition of the arts for students to develop skills within both an objective and subjective framework. In theory, this produces a fuller spectrum for student learning and supports the development of stronger critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as creativity, collaboration and communication. Again, those important 4 C’s.

The goal of STEAM is to inspire and empower students to explore their curiosity from many different perspectives and invest in creative exploration. Proponents of STEAM advocated that this added element challenges students to come up with more thought-provoking questions and more fully apply their imaginations to connecting problem-solving to real-world solutions. 

What is STREAM?

When we talk about STREAM education, we are referring to STEM with the added art of STEAM but also with the added subjects of reading and writing, which is what the R stands for in the acronym. This added R emphasizes the importance of reading and writing to the overall education of a student. Proponents of STREAM education emphasize a more well-rounded curriculum that supports the development of literacy, creativity and critical thinking skills and prepares students for careers in the real world.

Communication is integral to living, playing, working and thriving in the real world amongst other humans. Reading and writing skills are foundational to communication in both teaching how to communicate but also the why behind communication. In a technology driven-world, STREAM education supports students in not only solving problems and applying STEM skills, but it gives them the ability to:

• Solve those problems while taking human needs and feelings into consideration
• Communicate their ideas and solutions on a human level
• Collaborate with colleagues to put solutions into action

The goal of STREAM education is to not only acquire aptitude in STEM subjects but to understand the humanitarian side of using STEM skills and their impact on the real-world. STREAM is very much the same as the teaching of the 3 R’s (reading, writing and aRithmatic). Arithmetic in the old adage of the 3 R’s always included science and technology. STREAM uses these same principles but with the project-based learning methods of a STEM education.

STEM vs STEAM vs STREAM: The Main Differences

STEM education takes an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to teaching science, technology, engineering and math to build aptitude in these subjects as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students. By adding the arts, STEAM teaching strives to take the foundation of a STEM curriculum and expand it to include the subjective thought processes inherent to art disciplines. It allows for the addition of imagination and creativity to support innovation and self-expression as explained above.  STREAM education adds reading and writing to the STREAM curriculum and expands it further to take a more comprehensive whole-child approach. By adding reading and writing, the human side of STEM is explored more fully and students learn to communicate their ideas and solutions. 

The Pros of Expanding STEM to STEAM and STREAM

STEM is focused primarily on teaching STEM subjects through an integrated approach. STEAM focuses on adding arts to the integration to more fully develop the critical-thinking, problem solving, creativity and curiosity skills STEM is designed to teach. STREAM takes the approach one step further to bring in the human-side of solving problems, thinking critically and applying your creativity and curiosity. 

Expanding STEM Expands the Learning of 21st Century Skills

Building 21st century skills or the 4C’s, as explained earlier, are designed to help students succeed in the 21st century workplace. These skills fall into three main categories:

• Learning
• Literacy
• Social

21st century learning skills include critical thinking, creativity and innovative problem-solving. Literacy includes an understanding of how information is gained and processed in the digital age, how to communicate through different media and across disciplines, cultures and audiences, as well as literacy of emerging technology. Social skills include collaboration, interpersonal communication, leadership and self-expression.

Any approach to education needs to foster the development of these valuable skills. 

The Importance of STREAM Education and 21st Century Skills

STREAM schools take the whole child into consideration. STREAM teaching takes the approach of building 21st century skills from many different angles, not only through acquiring the technical skills of STEM but with the imagination skills of the arts and the human-level communication of reading and writing.

By taking the whole child into consideration proponents of  STREAM education advocated that it increases student participation and enthusiasm for learning as it can appeal to many different kinds of learners, not only those who have a natural aptitude for STEM subjects, but opens the door to STEM for those who may struggle in these subjects or lack the confidence to engage fully in learning them. STREAM allows many different types of students to engage in STEM learning and develop STEM-related skills. STREAM allows for more students to gain the benefits of a STEM-based education.

STREAM education promotes the development of lifelong skills in students that assist in connecting them to the real-world of humans. It also fosters skills in building sustainable relationships within that real-world. This is vital in helping young people grow into well-rounded, productive and healthy adults. 

The Cons of STEM and STREAM

When looking at STEM vs STEAM vs STREAM, the biggest disadvantage is the same as most discussions about educational methods. Not everyone agrees on what is best. Some advocates for STEM are not convinced that adding arts, and reading and writing necessarily enhance the curriculum, while others are convinced it does. There are proponents of STEM teaching who see the addition of these other subjects as a dilution of STEM’s primary focus of teaching science, technology, engineering and math. Some STEM advocates see the addition of other subjects more of a promotion of those subjects instead of a promotion of 21st century skills. 

Providing students with a quality education, however, should not come down to a choice between STEM or STREAM, but one that will assist students in building the necessary 21st century skills to fill meaningful roles in the ever-evolving 21st century workplace. The overall benefits of a STREAM education to fulfill this goal cannot be overlooked. 

Final Thoughts: STREAM EDUCATION

The difference between STEM and STREAM comes down to focus. STEM education focuses on projects that take an integrated approach to STEM subjects. STREAM education focuses on integrating a whole child approach to teaching, as explained in this article, to STEM subjects and building vital skills in students that allow them to succeed not only in school but in life too.

The post STEM vs STEAM vs STREAM: Differences and Benefits appeared first on Livestream Learning Studio.

Let’s take a look at these questions and more as we explore what STEM is for kids. In this guide, we will cover:

• What STEM is
• Why it is important 
• How it can improve student learning
• Some cons of STEM education
• STEM activities and resources for kids 

What Is STEM Education?

STEM is an acronym that stands for the four subjects: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It was first coined by the National Science Foundation over 20 years ago with the purpose of improving learning within these subjects. STEM education though is more than just the sum of these four subjects. It is an approach to teaching these subjects that is focused on interdisciplinary learning designed to reflect real life. The subjects are integrated into classroom lessons that are project and inquiry-based, which creates a learning environment for asking questions and solving problems. In STEM education, these inquiries and projects are aimed at applying STEM proficiencies to come up with answers and solutions.

In real life, science, technology, engineering and math complement each other across disciplines. For example, when designing a building in the real world (meaning outside of a classroom setting) an architect uses science, technology, engineering and math not as separate subjects, but as integrated disciplines that work together to create the building design. STEM education is based on mirroring this real-world problem solving and project design within the classroom.

This approach to teaching STEM includes STEM standards designed to allow students to apply STEM proficiencies. These standards link STEM learning experiences so students can develop and apply their knowledge of STEM subjects and improve their understanding of STEM competencies. These standards also include benchmarks that seek to increase student interest in STEM and STEM-related careers.  

The Importance of STEM Education for Kids 

One reason a STEM education is important for kids is that according to the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM related occupations are projected to grow up to 11% by 2031, almost twice as much as the total for non-STEM occupations. This projection makes STEM learning an important part of a student’s educational journey. It is also important for that journey to start in elementary school.

A STEM program for kids can get them developing skills early that will be needed to fill meaningful roles in the STEM workforce. STEM proficiencies are built over time. It takes study and practice to develop and improve them. Getting students engaged with STEM learning early in their educational journey is vital to establishing a strong STEM foundation. It is this foundation that a STEM education for kids is designed to accomplish.

STEM skills themselves can be classified in two broad categories, soft skills and hard skills.

Some of the hard skills developed with a STEM education include:

• Problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Logical-mathematical
• Engineering design
• Analysis
• Scientific method application

Some soft skills include:

• Curiosity
• Creativity
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Perseverance and persistence

Another aspect of STEM’s importance is rooted in promoting 21st century skills, or the four C’s:

• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Collaboration
• Communication

These skills are considered vital for students to develop in order to be successful in the 21st century workforce. It is noticeable that there is a cross-over with some of STEM’s skills and the 4 C’s. This crossover is where the importance of a STEM education is most vital. 

How STEM Can Improve Student Learning

STEM learning for kids can improve their overall learning by activating their critical thinking skills as well as their creativity, communication and collaboration. These 4 C’s, as outlined above, are essential in helping students learn how to learn. It is this skill, above any others, that prepares students for 21st century career pathways.

Technology continues to grow and change faster than students can be trained to apply it to any number of different jobs. These jobs are also difficult to predict. The necessary technical skills that are needed today may be different than what is needed in only a few short years. The world is moving at an ever-faster pace and that means the specific skills necessary for any given job are changing faster too. The importance of developing 21st century skills is to develop the ability to continue learning to keep pace with the specific skills needed for a changing workforce.

By improving a student’s ability to learn and apply their knowledge to given problems and circumstances that reflect the real world, a STEM education supports students in successfully navigating an ever-changing world.

STEM basics within the K-5 classroom are centered on helping students better understand the world around them. Students learn the technical skills and competencies within STEM subjects at age-appropriate levels, but they also learn to solve problems, think critically, communicate with each other and work together. Applying critical thinking and communication skills within the STEM centered classroom creates a learning environment rich in exploration and inquiry. This environment is designed to engage students in learning. It is that engagement that helps improve student learning overall. 

Some of the Cons of STEM Education

Not every education method is all good for all kids and types of learners. Every method has a downside. When we are looking at STEM for kids, especially early learners, STEM instructions need to meet students where they are at and open the world to further learning and understanding. Creating a learning environment that engages students in learning is key to any educational approach, STEM included.

STEM education was originally designed to improve learning within STEM subjects so more students could develop the skills and competencies necessary to enter STEM fields. This was seen as necessary for the US economy to remain competitive. This workforce driver could be seen as a con of STEM as it is propelled by economic reasons and not necessarily what is best for young learners. STEM education has continued to develop, however, over the last 20 years. Incorporating the arts, reading, and writing has brought a stronger whole-child approach to STEM programs and these developments have made the STEM approach to learning more accessible to different types of learners. 

STEM Activities and Resources for Kids

Teaching STEM can be rewarding, especially if you find STEM activities for your students that can make learning both fun and educational. STEM activities cover a STEM concept through hands-on learning and problem-solving. The key to these activities is to meet the students where they are at and to challenge them in fun and interesting ways. Some of the best activities incorporate the use of themes or objects that the students are already familiar with. This allows them to have a grounding within the activity with something they already have a connection to. 

Most STEM activities can be done in small groups. This also increases the skill building nature of the activity to incorporate collaboration and communication. With the need to work together to complete the activity students are more apt to organically work on these soft skills. Group dynamics usually help foster them naturally, but sometimes students do need some coaching on these skills as well. Older students may even enjoy the activities as a competitive game. Adding a time element to see which group can complete the activity the fastest can add that competitive edge.  

Fun STEM Activities for Kids

Pouring a Rainbow

With a simple, everyday clear mason jar, students explore the weight density of different substances and how they interact with each other. Gather up some everyday materials, honey, light corn syrup, green dish soap, olive oil, rubbing alcohol, water, food coloring, and a dropper. First, introduce your students to the concept of density. This understanding is the underpinning of the activity. Color the corn syrup purple, the water blue and the rubbing alcohol red. Pour each substance in the middle of the jar, being careful not to touch the sides. Until you get to the red rubbing alcohol. Using the dropper, drop it along the sides, so it does not break through to the oil layer and into the water, which will ruin the rainbow effect. Have students observe the rainbow they have poured into a jar. 

Fun with Coding

There are a lot of fun activities that can teach students coding basics. You can create a simple decoder and have students decode messages or make it a mystery solving game centered on a theme, such as superheroes, or pet detectives, or dragon slayers. You can even teach kids binary code basics by having them create their name in binary code. The key is to have any entry point into the activity that makes it fun and engaging. 

Building Structures with Everyday Objects

Challenge students’ engineering skills with building activities that use everyday items. Build structures with marshmallows and pretzels or straws and tape. You can use plastic cups and craft sticks to create structures with narrow bases, or the tallest they can get to stand, or one that plays with balance and weight. For an extra challenge for older elementary students, try using everyday objects to create a bridge that will hold the weight of a certain object, or a rollercoaster or a chain reaction.

Bring in Expanded Ways to Present STEM Lessons

Inspiring students through expanding methods of covering STEM concepts and lessons can help support student learning. Resources like Livestream Learning Studio, where students are creatively engaged to explore STEM subjects, can be a fund and innovative way to engage young learners.

Some other useful STEM resources for kids can be found on the Internet, but it is important to vet these resources for accuracy, quality and safety. Bringing vetted STEM focused learning platforms into your classroom, like Livestream Learning Studio, can help cover STEM principles at the elementary level with a fun, creative approach that engages students and inspires them to continue their STEM learning. 

Final Thoughts on STEM Education

STEM education is more than a term to throw around when talking about educating the next generation. It is an approach that is steeped in connecting STEM subjects in an integrated study that reflects the real world. By developing STEM proficiencies along with the hard and soft skills that coincide with 21st century skills geared for a 21st century workforce, STEM education teaches students to learn how to learn. This above all is the most important skill that students can take with them for the rest of their lives, no matter what career they may pursue.

The post What is STEM for Kids? Guide for Educators and Parents appeared first on Livestream Learning Studio.

TEL education offers ways to improve the learning experience for students and support teachers in delivering that experience. Let’s take a look at the uses of technology enhanced learning and offer some examples of technology in education. 

What Is Learning Technology?

Let’s first define what TEL is. Technology enhanced learning is the incorporation of any technology into lessons and teaching that enhances the classroom learning experience. This can include both analog and digital technologies, but digital technology for teaching and learning is the main force behind TEL education.

Digital technologies have permeated education through devices, software, applications and platforms. This implementation of technology has enhanced both the teaching and learning process. It has transformed much of how:

• Educators teach content
• Students interact and learn content
• Educators evaluate student learning
• Students use their learning inside and outside the classroom

E-learning or digital learning uses technology-mediated methods to support student learning in the classroom and virtually through online platforms. E-learning technologies support assessment, tutoring and instruction. These technologies continue to evolve and improve education for both students and educators. The general use of digital technologies increases daily, so it is no wonder that the tech tools and resources available to schools have also increased. Technology enhanced learning resources continue to grow and expand the possibilities of e-learning.

Why is technology enhanced learning important?

The importance of technology in education continues to grow as technology becomes more a part of our 21st Century lives and incorporating technology enhanced learning has become a widely used educational practice. A survey report by Smoothwall revealed that 56% of teachers responded that they believe technology makes students more noticeably engaged. Stats like this point to the use of TEL becoming more important in classroom learning. 

Benefits of TEL for Students

There are many ways to bring technology enhanced learning experiences into the classroom to benefit students. The wide usage of devices allows for easier delivery of digital technologies geared toward student learning. This has expanded learning opportunities for students in valuable ways. 

Self-paced Learning

One of the benefits of TEL over traditional learning models is the opportunity for students to more meaningfully learn at their own pace. Enabling this autonomy supports tailored learning on an individual level. Students can more easily review lessons through recordings and digital note taking. This is especially true when something is more difficult to understand or if a lesson is missed altogether, which can vary greatly, and daily, from student to student. When needed students can take pop quizzes, check their own work, review material or move on the next lesson 

Group Collaboration

Group projects, collaboration and peer-to-peer learning opportunities are no longer tied to face-to-face interaction in a shared physical space. Digital learning has taken group projects and peer group chats to a whole new level, giving students more ways to collaborate and organize tasks than ever. 

Resource Access

The expansion of digital technologies has given students expanded access to more and more resources. Through e-books, video tutorials and gamification student learning becomes more engaging, interactive and fun. This expanded access to different forms of information also has the ability to reach different types of learners, expanding learning outcomes. 

Resources access goes beyond just information students can read or view too. Livestream technology has made it possible for students to engage with material through live interaction. Creative performances and interactive presentations originating outside of the classroom can be brought into the classroom through livestream technology. Livestream Learning Studio is an example of using this technology to bring live, hosted educational events into the classroom that expand learning possibilities for students. Accessing real time interaction through livestream technology allows students the chance to engage with material in dynamic ways, increasing retention.

Career Pathways

Basic tech skills are necessary for almost any job. As technologies grow this fact becomes more important in students’ lives. Learning these essential job skills early increases student access to relevant career pathways, allowing for more seamless transitions into available professions. 

Learning Enjoyment

Technology enhanced learning can engage students in multiple ways and make learning more enjoyable. With increased opportunities for participation, interaction and deeper learning TEL can boost the joy of learning. When students enjoy the learning process, better learning outcomes are bound to follow. 

Learning Beyond the Classroom

An increase in self-paced learning and resource access coupled with a deeper dive into content helps students develop knowledge and skills that expand their ability to learn beyond the classroom. It teaches them that continued learning is not only possible but within their skill set. When students are given the skills and tools to learn at their own pace it gives them the confidence to continue to use those skills not only for school work but in other parts of their lives as well.

Benefits of TEL for Teachers 

Teachers are always looking for new ways to give students enhanced learning experiences and TEL resources for teachers abound that can do just that. By integrating technology into lessons educators have the opportunity to present content and engage students in multiple ways. They also have the opportunity to be better supported in doing so. 

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods are becoming heavily influenced by devices and the growth of educational software, applications and digital platforms. This increased teacher access to both interactive materials and ways to present those materials is supporting new approaches to teaching and fostering greater classroom interactivity. These expanded methods allow teachers to more easily develop interactive lessons that enhance student engagement.

Technology as a Resource

Expanding technology does not only give teachers tools for their students to engage in self-paced computer learning. Digital technology also expands educational resources that can bring content to life in the classroom. Things like engaging illustrations, stories, performances and livestreams facilitate connection, participation and interaction. Real-time interaction with resources outside the classroom allows for teachers to expand how students engage with content in exciting and dynamic ways. Teachers are then supported in capturing student attention, deepening their engagement and enhancing their content retention.

Teacher Resources

TEL has expanded educator resources into different formats, including video, audio, gamification and digital livestreams. These resources make it easier for teachers to cater to different learning styles by offering more creative ways to teach content and open new learning pathways for students. Educators also have an increased ability to leverage digital tools and software, and up-to-date data, figures and current news, broadening the scope of material beyond what is available in the physical classroom. 

Peer Learning Opportunities

With online support networks and resources becoming more accessible, teachers can be more easily supported by subject experts and other teachers through online forums and discussion groups. Teachers have more resources and opportunities to join education peer groups regardless of location to get the support they need to tackle subjects, find different approaches and apply new methods and material.  

Assessment Tools

Technology enhanced learning has changed the way educators conduct assessments and has allowed for more frequent and tailored evaluation for individual students. This in turn supports teachers in tailoring their lessons to meet student needs and raising learning outcomes.

Communication

Video conferencing software, learning management systems and collaboration tools open up access to more communication channels between teachers, students and parents. These multiple communication channels foster earlier and more individualized intervention strategies for better student progress. 

Not Just Any TEL Will Do

Incorporating TEL experiences into the classroom has made education more accessible, flexible and responsive. It has also offered teachers more support for bringing in meaningful student experiences and improving content delivery and assessment. Introducing just any technology into the classroom, however, is not the best way to apply technology enhanced learning. The prevalence of TEL makes discernment of what technologies are used and how they are applied an important consideration. 

The Catch-22 of Teaching Tech-Savvy Students

Students may be comfortable using technology and navigating different platforms, but this does not automatically translate into an enhanced learning experience. Just because today’s students are tech-savvy does not mean that the array of technologies they interact with daily serve the purpose of learning. Students are just as likely to use technology to zone out as to tune in, which can act as a barrier for TEL learning.

It is important to remember that the very reason that students find technology to be within their comfort zone makes it crucial to integrate the right technology enhanced learning opportunities into the classroom. It is imperative that the technologies being used improve students’ education experience and learning outcomes. In other words, when it comes to 21st century learning, engagement matters.

The right technology integrated into lessons can improve student interaction with content, which can then improve their understanding of that content. The more interactive and richer the content, the better it is at capturing student attention and deepening their learning experience.

TEL education needs to include ways for students to tune in instead of tune out. One way to do this is by using e-learning platforms that deliver memorable experiences, like how Livestream Learning Studio presents content through stories, humor and in-the-moment interaction. This type of engagement meets students where they are at, through platforms they are comfortable with, but also with a creative and innovative way to capture their attention and deepen their learning. This is key to making technology enhanced learning what it is meant to be – enhanced. 

Interactive Technology Is Key

Interactive, creative content not only grabs student’s attention, it helps keep students engaged in learning. Incorporating technology into the classroom that allows for interaction helps make the content come alive for students. Educational platforms, like Livestream Learning Studio, where educational content is presented in a fun, interactive and memorable way through creative, story-based learning, helps students become engaged and stay engaged. An experience that is not only educational but also fun has the benefit of making it more memorable, which in turn also supports student retention. 

Technology Enhanced Learning Examples 

There are many ways to bring TEL experiences into the classroom to benefit student learning, including digital applications, interactive livestream platforms, video libraries, e-books and gamification. Technology enhanced learning allows for more innovative and comprehensive ways to access, deliver, interact and learn content for both teachers and students. So, what are some examples of how TEL is used? 

E-books

Digital books delivered via devices are easy to carry, access and share. They also come with faster and more frequent content updates, keeping the material up-to-date and relevant. Costly and outdated textbooks no longer need to be replaced. The world changes quickly, textbooks need to as well. E-books also allow for more integrated learning through digital note taking and highlighting. 

Digital Devices

Computers and tablets are a mainstay in classrooms. They are foundational equipment that allows students to access and use a myriad of digital learning resources including notes, illustrations, quizzes, syllabi, progress reports, research libraries, podcasts, video learning and livestreams. This is an integral part of the classroom experience and the opportunities to leverage resources via devices is almost endless. 

Gamification

Learning applications that present educational material through interactive games help supplement lessons in fun, safe and innovative ways. These platforms allow students to review material, take quizzes and learn new concepts through the act of play. They can also be used as an assessment tool. 

Livestream Learning

Livestream technology offers teachers the opportunity to bring live, interactive lessons, presented in fun, entertaining and educational ways, into the classroom from anywhere in the world. Platforms like Livestream Learning Studio give educators in-class support on standards-based lessons without compromising planning time 

Final Thoughts

Technology enhanced learning becomes essential to educational outcomes when it is implemented with purpose with an emphasis on engagement and interaction. By supporting both educators and students TEL can improve learning outcomes and make life-long learning enjoyable. Constantly changing technology is here to stay. Learning to use it in innovative ways, including the learning process, makes students ready to tackle the real world.

The post What is Technology Enhanced Learning? Examples and Uses appeared first on Livestream Learning Studio.

Inclusion in education allows students to feel comfortable with both the lesson and their classroom communities. The benefits are substantial, and they can stick with us for life. Let’s look at some of the ways we can incorporate inclusive teaching into our everyday lesson plans. Before we do, we’ll dig a little deeper into what inclusive teaching is.

What is Inclusive Teaching?

When you look at your classroom, what do you see? If you’ve got a diverse student body, you probably see students from all different walks of life. You may see students from a number of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. You’ll also probably see students with different intellectual, emotional, developmental, and physical abilities. 

Whether students differ based on language, ability, behavioral needs, or sexual orientation, each learns in a slightly different way. That’s because each students’ life situation results in connections with different things. Identifying and accepting those differences is at the heart of inclusive teaching. 

At its simplest, inclusive teaching is teaching in a way that makes all students feel included. That means creating an environment where students feel valued and comfortable and unafraid to participate. It takes a little work, but there are strategies that can help you get where you want to be. Before we dig into strategies for inclusion, I’d like to touch on why inclusive teaching is important. 

How Inclusive Teaching Benefits Students

All students deserve the same chance at a quality education. Due to different ability levels among students, this hasn’t always been an easy thing for teachers to provide. Inclusive teaching is a fantastic way to ensure all your students are able to reach their full potential. Let’s look at some reasons inclusive teaching is such a powerful tool in a diverse world.

Inclusive Teaching Helps Build Confidence

One of the scariest parts of participating in any activity is the fear of rejection. We feel that if we don’t perform well or get the wrong answer, people will judge us. Add in the fact that we may look, act, or speak differently from others, and this fear can become crippling.

One of the best ways to overcome that fear is to actively participate. We learn that there’s really nothing to be afraid of. Also, for the most part, most people will be kind to us if we make a simple mistake. The more we are exposed to these situations, the more we develop self-esteem and confidence. 

When students have confidence, they are more willing to learn and challenge themselves. They’re also better able to overcome obstacles they encounter throughout their learning journeys. One of the greatest learning benefits that comes with building confidence is that it can actually help us improve comprehension.

Inclusive Teaching Helps Improve Comprehension

Confidence and comprehension go hand in hand. When students lack the confidence to speak up or answer questions, their comprehension can suffer. This is a vicious cycle that teachers have been battling seemingly forever. Luckily, inclusive teaching can help students improve their comprehension. 

Beyond confidence building, another reason inclusive teaching methods help improve comprehension is that it involves finding ways to connect. Students have a hard time comprehending materials if they have nothing to relate it to. By getting to know students and tailoring lesson plans to the way they learn, no child is left behind. 

That means connecting to students, no matter their situation. ESL students may benefit from lesson plans that involve their native tongues or cultures. Physically disabled students may benefit from lessons that showcase differently abled students succeeding. Any time we can involve the things a student holds near and dear is an opportunity to reach them on another level.

Inclusive Teaching Helps Foster Positive Attitudes Toward Learning

When we take the fear out of the classroom, we allow students to enjoy the experience. Removing the anxiety barrier allows us to be in the moment. When we are overly focused on insecurities, we can’t fully focus on our studies. This can lead to negative associations with school and learning in general. 

Inclusive teaching focuses on the strategies that help alleviate those fears. The more we practice them, the less anxiety we’ll feel. The resulting positive attitudes toward learning can make all the difference in the world when it comes to a student’s success. If you’re ready to develop these benefits in your own students, it’s time to learn some inclusive practices that will make it happen.

Inclusive Teaching Strategies

The legwork that goes into making your classroom inclusive doesn’t need to be difficult. In fact, it should be fun. That’s the whole point. Inclusive strategies often involve sharing and expressing ourselves. Take it one step at a time, and you’ll see your vision come to life before your eyes. If you want to create a sense of inclusion, classroom strategies like these can get you there quickly.

Learn About One Another

Few activities cultivate a community like getting to know one another. This should be the first step, but it should also be an ongoing step. Building bonds takes time, so don’t rush through it. This step is crucial if you want your inclusive teaching endeavor to be successful. Here’s why.

Learning about who the people in our classrooms really are is what connects us. It makes us care whether or not the members of our little teams succeed or fail. It allows us to open up about our thoughts and feelings, and allows us to be open and receive the thoughts and feelings of others. Empathy goes a long way in all aspects of life, so take some time to cultivate it.

Simple exercises can get you there. Students and teachers share what makes them unique and what makes them the same. This may be accomplished through early semester ice breakers, show and tell, or by teaming up with one another. These activities build interest in and empathy for one another. That’s the first step toward inclusion. This is also an important step in creating group activities that deepen our understanding of others. 

Get Students Involved in Group Activities

Participating in group activities is a really great way to involve students in inclusive learning. It’s also a great way to increase our knowledge of one another. Participating in activities with others forces us to think creatively and use our experiences to solve problems. As we share those experiences, it bonds us together.

Many of us make friends and create these bonds through teams. Whether we’re involved in sports, academia, or some other hobby, sharing our successes and failures together helps us grow together. When we have shared experiences with an emotional element, such as winning and losing, those shared emotions create a special bond. Create these same experiences through inclusion instruction in the classroom and your students will be set up for success.

Make the Classroom a Safe Space

Learning about one another is key to creating a safe and inclusive classroom for students to share and participate. As we’ve explored already, this builds empathy. The more we know about one another, the more we feel for them. Once you create a safe space for students, you’ll see them open up and shed their fear of being judged. Making this a reality will take a concerted effort. 

Expectations must be set and understood by the entire class.It must be crystal clear to all students that judgment of others will not be tolerated. Students should show respect for everyone in the class, and should not bully or tease others for struggling or making mistakes. 

Creating a safe and inclusive environment means that students get the experience they need to boost self-confidence. They also comprehend the materials better. That allows them to feel confident in their answers. This, in turn, will reduce much of the anxiety associated with participation in classroom activities. A safe and inclusive classroom rounds this all off.

Choose Diverse and Relevant Materials

Students tend to learn best when the material feels relevant to their lives. When they can see themselves in the narrative or see how something impacts their communities, the lesson sticks. They may even be more apt to become active participants in making changes that bolster their communities. 

If you’ve taken the time to learn about one another, you already know what materials are relevant. Materials that reflect the cultural and socioeconomic makeup of the class will be particularly impactful. Make sure you build instruction based on unique and varied materials to keep students interested.

Another great way to ensure materials are relevant is to give students a voice. Let them take part in picking some materials. By allowing them to choose materials that are of interest to them may even take some work off your plate. You’ll spend less time getting them to focus and more time expanding their minds.

Vary Instruction Styles

As important as study materials are, instruction styles may be equally impactful. Some students learn better in one environment over another, and the only way to learn what works is to switch it up. 

Outdated videos and heavy texts don’t generally foster students’ excitement. That can be a detriment to the learning process. Choosing to change it up is taking an active step towards ensuring students absorb information rather than parroting it back. So, what kind of alternatives are out there?

Games

Kids love games. That’s a fact. Games are seen by some as a waste of time, but there is increasing body of evidence to the contrary. When students are allowed to work games and play into their learning, they often show more motivation to learn and are more attentive. Not only that, but they can teach important problem solving and teamwork lessons. Don’t write games off. They are becoming an increasingly important part of the learning process, and can reinforce your inclusive teaching efforts. 

Interactive Digital Activities

Another way to get students engaged is through interactive digital activities. Today’s students grew up on the internet and devices, so few things feel as natural to them. Incorporating activities that involve devices and apps can get them more excited than book and video learning alone. 

Bring in Guest Speakers

One of the most powerful ways to get kids engaged is to bring in guests that they can connect to. Seeing people who look like us sharing their stories lets us know that we can accomplish more than we may think. They have the same struggles and similar backgrounds, and that’s an engaging combination. 

If you need help locating guest speakers for your classroom, you’re in luck.  Livestream Learning Studio offers inclusion resources to help you out. We deliver knowledgeable guest speakers via virtual events that maximize academic content engagement. Here’s how it works.

Livestream Learning Studio provides educators with a virtual learning platform for K-5 students that teaches academic content in ways that address all learning styles, across multiple subjects. We deliver a robust program catalog, differentiated for lower and upper elementary, with stress-free usability. Our literacy programs for grades K-2 and STEM programs for grades 3-5 create lasting impact in the classroom through our unique laugh-while-learning approach. 

Utilize UDL Guidelines

In order for students to get the most out of their curriculum, it’s important that the materials are accessible. If a student can’t grasp the materials, it’s incredibly difficult for them to absorb or retain that information. That’s where UDL, or Universal Design in Learning comes in. 

Universal Design in Learning principles are a way of identifying, addressing, and overcoming systemic barriers that lead to negative learning outcomes. That includes doing everything we can to provide flexible learning environments and learning spaces that allow learners of all ability levels to participate and succeed. It’s a key part of inclusive teaching and creating successful students.

Get the Support You Need

Teaching in an inclusive classroom will deliver tremendous benefits for all your students. Understanding the ins and outs of inclusive pedagogy, or the ways we consider student differences to engage them in meaningful, relevant, and accessible classroom instruction will make your inclusive teaching efforts more powerful. Get the support you need to provide your students with the support they need.

The post Inclusive Teaching Strategies and Why to Use Them appeared first on Livestream Learning Studio.

Let’s take a look at:

• What SEL is
• Why it is important to teach
• What benefits are gained by students and educators through SEL teaching 

What is SEL?

An SEL curriculum integrates social emotional learning into the everyday lessons taught within a classroom. By providing an emotional education for students as well as a cognitive one, educators are able to promote a positive learning culture in the classroom and students gain valuable skills they can use throughout their lives. SEL is an approach to education that gives students a process to acquire tools and knowledge that improve their classroom learning experience and their lives beyond the classroom. 

A Brief History of SEL

Studies conducted and practical application done over several decades has found that social emotional learning plays an essential role in promoting student success, both in the classroom and beyond. Integrating this crucial curriculum into school educational programming benefits both students and educators in multiple ways.

The modern concept of social emotional learning started at the Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine in the 1960’s, but as an integrated part of the educational curriculum became more prominent in the mid-1990’s. At this time, scholars across multiple fields of study began working together to identify key competencies that allowed students to better navigate both school and life. An integrated curriculum emerged that promoted the development of these key competencies in students. Over several decades, this large body of research and practice established a foundational understanding of both the key skills and competencies gained through SEL learning and the benefits of developing them.

In this article, the SEL benefits we refer to come from the body of knowledge gained by these decades of research and practice that has led to the development and application of an SEL curriculum and an understanding of its benefits. 

Why Teach SEL?

The importance of SEL lies in the fact that students need both the hard skills of reading, writing and mathematics, but also the soft skills gained through SEL learning. An SEL education is centered in helping students develop skills such as:

• Recognizing, understanding and managing emotions
• Caring and considering others
• Feeling and showing empathy
• Making reasonable decisions
• Understanding and behaving ethically and responsibly
• Developing and maintaining positive relationships
• Regulating and avoiding negative behaviors
• Setting and achieving positive goals

By developing these skills through the process of learning, students in the classroom develop positive SEL behavior that promotes more successful educational outcomes. 

The Benefits of SEL

The benefits of SEL in schools span a wide range for both students and teachers. Let’s dig a little deeper into these SEL benefits. 

Benefits for Students 

SEL benefits for students are grounded in the development of social and emotional skills and competencies that support positive outcomes throughout their lives. These include:

• Academic success
• Healthy behaviors
• Mental wellness
• Positive social behavior
• Healthy well-being
• Enhanced coping skills and resiliency
• Future readiness 

Academic Success

One of the main SEL outcomes for students is improved academic performance. Hundreds of studies show improved academic achievement for students who have the opportunities to develop and practice social and emotional skills in the classroom. Grade test scores are higher as is attendance and homework completion rate. The supportive relationships built through SEL accelerates learning across the board, including students cognitive skill development. As SEL supports a more positive educational environment students are more engaged in learning and gain a higher level of investment in school performance. This all positively impacts academic success. 

Healthy Behaviors

Studies have shown SEL classrooms are more relaxed and focused on student engagement rather than negative student behavior. Students who participate in an SEL curriculum more often feel that their concerns are heard and respected. This allows students to focus on learning rather than disruptive behavior. SEL promotes students finding their voice, allowing them to appropriately express their emotions, even anger and aggression, which prevents more damaging behavior to surface. The long-term benefits of recognizing, understanding and managing behavior is considerable as students carry those skills for a lifetime. Studies also demonstrate a decrease in substance abuse among students who develop skills through SEL. 

Mental Wellness

Research on SEL benefits shows that students who engage in an SEL education have less depression, anxiety and stress. Studies suggest that when students develop the core competencies promoted by SEL their executive cognitive functions improve. This allows them to:

• Focus better
• Switch their attention more easily from task to task
• Apply stronger self-regulation skills

Developing these skills lowers students’ emotional stress and raises their overall engagement in learning and life. 

Positive Social Behavior

One of the key SEL benefits is the development of stronger interpersonal interaction skills. In other words, students get along better with others. Learning to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with their peers, parents and teachers helps students gain the self-knowledge necessary to develop these relationships throughout their lives. Stronger student-teacher and student-peer relationships also establish a more effective learning environment in the classroom. This emphasis on positive social behavior also contributes to a reduction in bullying and student aggression.

Healthy Well-being

A strong SEL education creates a safer and more supportive school climate. This cultivates a sense of belonging in students and strengthens their engagement and connection to the school and its people. This in turn cultivates factors that contribute to students’ overall mental well-being. Caring relationships, safe supportive environments and positive social and emotional skills create a buffer for students against mental health risks. 

Enhanced Coping Skills and Resiliency

Another SEL benefit is the development of students’ coping skills when things do not go as expected. This helps promote resilience in students, which can contribute greatly to their success in and out of the classroom. The same factors that contribute to a student’s sense of belonging and inclusiveness within the school environment contribute to the development of these coping skills.  

Future Readiness

One of the greatest SEL benefits for students is the building of social emotional competencies that contribute to stronger positive lifetime outcomes. Research has shown that SEL education supports students in reaching lifetime milestones, such as high school graduation, completion of postsecondary education and more stable lifetime employment. Since research on SEL benefits has a history that is decades long, it is possible to study the long-term impact of SEL education throughout a student’s life. These studies have shown that the positive impact of an SEL education carries through a students’ school years and into their adult lives. This effectiveness  

SEL Benefits for Teachers

Some of the SEL advantages for teachers include a stronger sense of well-being and a higher sense of job satisfaction. Both of these factors contribute to less teacher burnout.  

SEL helps teachers:

• Build and maintain stronger relationships with their students
• Manage their classrooms more effectively
• Lower the level of anxiety in their classrooms
• Establish a positive and productive learning environment
• Promote stronger student engagement with lessons and learning

In other words, SEL benefits teachers by supporting them in doing the job they set out to do. 

Longevity of SEL benefits

Improvement in social and emotional skill building benefits students for a lifetime. Students learn more in school than just reading, writing and arithmetic. Learning involves the whole person and also all the people who make up the school community. In other words, a learning environment is a social space and social spaces are also emotional spaces. SEL benefits the emotional and social learning of students, helping them build both social skills and emotional skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.

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Positive reinforcement in the classroom works somewhat the same way, but as a classroom management tool and a teaching method, positive reinforcement in education becomes more than just a gold star or a congratulatory nod. It is a positive reinforcement system that works to not only motivate continued effort, but to support changing classroom behavior for the better.

Defining Positive Reinforcement in the Classroom

Positive reinforcement in the classroom is based on the theory of operant conditioning developed by behavioral psychologist, B.F. Skinner in the late 1930s. It has been used to develop the theory of positive reinforcement in school as an effective behavior management technique. The theory focuses on what students do well instead of on misbehavior, with the idea that it helps support continued effort and better behavior. The technique is applied by rewarding students for their accomplishments and good behavior in the interest of motivating them to:

• Change their negative behavior
• Practice employing good behavior
• Focus their efforts on continuing to achieve further accomplishments

In practice, classroom positive reinforcement applies this behavioral theory to connect a specific positive behavior to a desirable consequence with the goal of encouraging the reoccurrence of the positive behavior. The theory posits that reinforcing the stimulus that encourages the behavior increases the probability of the behavior being repeated. In other words, a pleasant or desirable reward is added when a specific action or behavior is done, which in turn increases the likelihood of the action or behavior continuing to be done. (https://www.simplypsychology.org/positive-reinforcement.html) 

In school, this theory is applied to classroom management and teaching to encourage students to practice their efforts towards positive behavior and achievements instead of towards misbehavior and lack of effort.

The Importance of Creating a Positive Environment

Positive reinforcement in the classroom helps support a safe and positive environment in the classroom to facilitate your students’ learning journeys. Creative teaching practices that engage students within that positive environment are a vital part of the learning journey as well. Applying a creative approach to learning, like how Livestream Learning Studio engages students in fun and dynamic ways, can also act as a positive reinforcement within your classroom environment and further benefit your students’ learning journeys. 

What Does Positive Reinforcement in the Classroom Look Like in Practice?

For a teacher, positive reinforcement is all about timing and delivery. The reward needs to be age-appropriate and genuine, otherwise the student may not understand what is being asked of them or will not believe the reward to be real. It is also important for the reward to closely follow the occurrence of the desired behavior. The purpose is to motivate students to actively employ positive behaviors and to model those behaviors for each other.

Classrooms, however, are principally filled with students, not just teachers. The environment of the classroom also lends itself to peer-to-peer reinforcement, as well as what is given or directed by the teacher.  A positive reinforcement classroom is one where students have the opportunity to encourage each other towards positive behavior change along with the teacher. This peer-to-peer encouragement can be seen as a form of secondary reinforcement.

An example of positive reinforcement teaching is encouraging specific actions in the classroom through group reward. This may include having a classroom bucket that gets filled with a token, such as a marble or a pompom, every time students display specified behaviors, like putting materials away or completing certain tasks. When the bucket is filled, the class gets a stated reward, like a classroom party or extended recess time.

Another example may look like a team competition where students earn points for their team by showing behaviors deemed appropriate and productive in the classroom and towards each other. A running tally of the earned points can be displayed with a reward for the team with the most points after a specified period of time.

You can also view thanking a specific student for their positive behavior, such as walking calmly down the hallway while others are running, as another example of using positive reinforcement in the classroom. Instead of saying, “Don’t run in the hallway,” you can say, “Thank you, (insert student name), for walking so calmly in the hallway.” This both highlights the positive behavior being demonstrated and rewards the student with a shout-out and a thank you.

Positive reinforcement in the classroom does not always have to be said out loud or shared with the whole class. It might take the form of a written thank you note when a student has shown exceptional kindness towards another student or achieved a milestone in their work, like reading a certain number of books. This note can be a source of pride for the student and they can share it with their peers if they choose.

All of these examples use positive reinforcement and peer-to-peer secondary reinforcement as classroom management tools, as well as motivators for students to learn and practice positive behaviors. This approach encourages students to change behavior without pointing out or giving attention to negative behavior. 

Different Types of Positive Reinforcement

Positive behavior reinforcement in the class can take on many different forms. These forms can be categorized into five different types of reinforcers:

• Direct
• Social
• Activity
• Tangible
• Tokens 

Direct Reinforcers

This is the type of reinforcement that occurs as a direct result of appropriate behavior with peers. Students who play well together are naturally reinforced to continue to play well together because not only do they experience enjoyment but also social acceptance and peer approval.

Social Reinforcers

Another form of positive reinforcement in school is through social reinforcers. This type of reinforcer is mediated by an outside figure such as a teacher, a parent, or another adult. It takes on the form of expressions of praise or approval when appropriate behavior or effort is displayed by the student. The reward is experienced by having good behavior recognized and praised within the classroom. The “thank you for walking calmly in the hallway” example above is one way to use social reinforcers. Others may include written notes, smiling, nodding, a pat on the back, a high-five or a simple “great job” shout-out. 

Activity Reinforcers

This type of reinforcer is a way to reward good behavior and productive effort in the classroom by allowing students to participate in an activity of their choice. This can include a game, sitting in a special chair to read a book, time to create an art project, or play a sport with a friend. The purpose is for the student to have autonomy and time during the school day to choose to do something they prefer instead of something they are assigned to do. It is a privilege they have earned through positive behavior, and they get to enjoy it. 

Tangible Reinforcers

This type of reward includes tangible things that the student is given because they employed appropriate behavior or achieved a particular goal. Tangible reinforcers include awards, desirable food, a chance to display their work in a place of honor, a letter home singing their praises, or a choice of small toys or stickers from a prize box. It is something tangible the student can point to that helps reinforce positive classroom behavior. 

Token Reinforcers

This type of reinforcer falls into the category explained above with the team earning points towards a specified reward or the class as a whole earning a token that goes into a jar. This can also be applied to individual students as well. The idea is to accumulate awarded tokens over time, whether as a team, as a whole class, or as individuals. These accumulated tokens then add up to something valuable, like a classroom party, dance time at the end of the day, or the chance to listen to music while working on a project. 

Positive Reinforcement vs. Negative Reinforcement

We have spent quite a bit of time discussing positive reinforcement, but for every positive there always seems to be a negative. So is there negative reinforcement in the classroom? If so, what does it look like?

An increase in appropriate behavior is the goal of positive reinforcement in the classroom through using the type of positive reinforcers already explained. A negative reinforcer works when a positive behavior is employed in order to have a negative consequence removed. This can look like a student putting all of their materials away at the appropriate time to avoid having to stay in during recess to do it.

There is also an unintended way to positively reinforce bad behavior. This is referred to as a positive reinforcement trap (https://dragonflypsych.com/articles/the-nuts-bolts-of-behavior-management). It occurs when attention is given to inappropriate or adverse behavior, which acts as a reinforcer that increases the chances of it being repeated.

For example, if a student blurts out answers instead of raising their hand and the teacher continues to call on the student and draw attention to their blurted answers, it can act as a positive reinforcement of a negative behavior. A focus on negative behavior in the classroom often reinforces that behavior.

Positive reinforcers stimulate good behavior through the addition of something positive and encouraging. Negative reinforcers act more as deterrents by encouraging good behavior through the removal of something negative. 

Best Practices for Positive Reinforcement in the Classroom

Overall, the use of positive reinforcement in the classroom is a technique designed to change student behavior and sustain its use over and over again. The technique acts as a tool for teachers to help students grow more and more willing to employ positive behavior and effort while in school. This positive reinforcement classroom management technique can support classroom learning, especially if you follow some useful best practices. 

Be Consistent, Not Continuous

Figuring out how often to use positive reinforcement can mean the difference between a successful technique and one that can muddle student achievement. Continuous reinforcement can undermine the usefulness of the technique. If students are rewarded every time they display a positive behavior, they can become complacent and expect a reward every time they do anything. This can lead to diminishing the employment of positive behavior instead of increasing it.

If you continuously offer too many reinforcers and then curb their use, students may also become frustrated, feel they have done something wrong, or feel like they are being unfairly punished for employing positive behaviors and cease doing so. This has the opposite effect of why you use positive reinforcement in the classroom in the first place.

The goal is consistency and setting a level of expectation for behavior that is age-appropriate, reachable, and specific. Setting reasonable expectations and clearly defining what they are and how to achieve them is important. Then, sticking to a consistent system of reinforcement will support consistent good behavior. 

Reward What’s Done Well

Remember that the point of using positive reinforcement in the classroom is to not only encourage good student behavior and academic effort, but also increase the probability of that behavior and effort continuing. One thing that can undermine appropriate behavior and effort from students is when they are not held to their end of the bargain. In the positive reinforcement system, students are expected to do well and behave well. If students are rewarded even if they do not do well or can do whatever they like and still receive a reward, then the whole process falls apart. It is vital to reward what’s done well and not whatever is done.

Be Specific

Pointing out what a student is doing well in specific and concrete ways helps clearly define behavior and expectations. A vague “good job” holds much less value than a “good job on solving the new math problems you have been working on this week.” The more specific praise gives a student a specific accomplishment to attach the praise to. It also helps them feel seen and recognized. This specificity is much more likely to feed the probability of a student’s continued effort. 

Add Variety

Variety happens in two ways within the positive reinforcement technique. First, using the same praise or reinforcer over and over again can grow tired and may diminish the use of good behavior and effort over time. Add variety to the praise and type of reinforcer you use. Make sure you also vary who receives positive reinforcement. If the same handful of students receive all the praise and rewards in a classroom, the rest of the students will stop trying to employ appropriate behavior. Forgetting to spread the rewards around can undermine positive reinforcement as a classroom management tool. 

Apply a Balanced Approach

All and all, as with most things, positive reinforcement in the classroom is best done with a balanced approach. Rewarding students too often for easily repeated behaviors is going to eventually wear thin, with an end result of discouraging students instead of motivating them. This can also be true if the size of the reinforcer outweighs the effort to achieve the behavior. In the end, students will often show what types of reinforcers work best for them, and their positive behavior and efforts toward achievement will speak for themselves.

The post What You Need To Know About Positive Reinforcement In The Classroom appeared first on Livestream Learning Studio.

This article delves into the topic of learning styles and their significance in the classroom. We’ll also offer insight into practical strategies teachers can employ to accommodate all learning preferences, ultimately creating a more personalized and impactful educational experience for every student.

What Are Learning Styles?

The concept of teaching-learning styles refers to the different ways in which individual learners acquire and process information. They reflect a student’s preferred method of learning and can influence how they understand, retain, and apply new knowledge. While there are various models proposed, Verywell Mind argues that the most common is the VARK model which identifies four main classroom learning styles. These learning styles are Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing and Kinesthetic–which is how you get the acronym “VARK”.

The Four Types of Learning Methods

Visual

Visual learners prefer to learn through visual aids, such as diagrams, charts, graphs and videos. They understand information better when they can see it and may benefit from creating visual representations of concepts.

Auditory

Auditory learners learn best through listening and verbal explanations. Thus, examples of this learning style are lectures, discussions and audio materials. These students may find it helpful to read information aloud or engage in group discussions.

Reading/Writing

As its name suggests, the reading/writing student style includes reading and writing activities. Students with this learning style excel in understanding information when it’s presented in written form, such as textbooks, articles and written instructions. Likewise, they often benefit from taking detailed notes, creating outlines and summarizing information in written format.

Kinesthetic

Kinesthetic learners, also known as tactile learners, learn best through hands-on experiences and physical activities. They understand information by engaging in practical tasks. A few kinesthetic teaching-learning style examples are experiments, demonstrations, role-playing and interactive exercises. These students may have a preference for active learning and may benefit from using 3-D models or engaging in real-life simulations.

Determining a Student’s Learning Style

Teachers can use a VARK survey to help determine a student’s preferred method of learning. The survey typically consists of a series of questions designed to gauge the student’s preferences in learning. The survey may ask about their preferences for studying, how they understand and remember information and what types of activities they find most engaging.

Analyzing the responses can provide insights into each student’s learning style and guide teachers in tailoring their instructional approaches. With this knowledge, teachers can practice teaching different learning styles that include visual aids, auditory explanations, written materials or hands-on activities, fostering a more inclusive and effective learning environment for their students.

Does Catering to a Student’s Learning Style Enhance Their Education?

Let’s take a look at the legitimacy behind teaching to the varying types of learning styles. The relationship between the styles of teaching and learning is a topic of debate among educators and researchers. While the idea of tailoring instruction to match individual learning styles may seem intuitive, there is limited scientific evidence to support the notion that doing so consistently leads to improved educational outcomes.

Research suggests that a more successful approach to education involves providing a variety of teaching styles and strategies that engage different learning modalities. This approach acknowledges that students can benefit from exposure to diverse learning experiences and encourages them to develop skills across various modalities, rather than solely relying on their preferred style. By incorporating a mix of visual, auditory, read/write and kinesthetic activities, teachers can create a more inclusive and comprehensive learning environment that accommodates a range of student preferences.

Therefore, while considering learning styles can be beneficial in understanding students’ preferences, teachers must adopt a holistic approach that integrates a variety of teaching methods to create an engaging learning experience for all students.

The Danger of Pigeonholing a Student to One Teaching-Learning Style

While learning styles hold importance in their ability to understand the way a student learns, they cannot show the full picture of how a student learns best in the classroom. This is because individuals often have a mix of learning styles and don’t neatly fit into a single category.

Pigeonholing a student to one learning style can be detrimental to their education for several reasons. Firstly, it oversimplifies the complex process of learning. Human cognition is multifaceted and involves various cognitive processes, and attempting to fit students into a single learning style disregards this complexity. In reality, individuals often utilize a combination of learning styles depending on the context and subject matter.

Secondly, pigeonholing can limit a student’s exposure to different modes of learning. By exclusively catering to their preferred style, students may miss out on opportunities to develop and strengthen other important skills and modalities. For example, if a student is labeled as a visual learner and is predominantly provided with visual materials, they may not develop strong listening or kinesthetic skills that are crucial in many learning and professional environments.

Furthermore, relying heavily on a single learning style may create a dependency on specific instructional approaches. In real-world scenarios, individuals are often required to adapt to different learning environments and styles. By only accommodating one style, students may struggle to effectively learn and perform in situations that don’t align with their preferred modality.

Teaching Strategies for Different Learning Styles

Visual Teaching Learning Styles

Teaching strategies for visual learners involve utilizing visual aids and techniques to facilitate their understanding and retention of information. We’ve listed a few strategies below that educators can utilize for visual learners.

Visual Presentations

Incorporating visual elements such as charts, diagrams, and slides in your presentations can enhance visual learning. Using colors, shapes, and images to illustrate concepts and relationships is important in making the information more visually appealing and easier to grasp for this type of learner.

Infographics

Utilizing infographics or creating posters that summarize key information in a visually appealing format. Visual learners can refer to these visual summaries for quick reviews and as visual reminders of important concepts.

Videos and Demonstrations

Incorporating the use of videos, animation, and real-life demonstrations to present information visually and dynamically can help visual learners better comprehend and retain knowledge as it helps put concepts into action.

Auditory Teaching Learning Styles

Auditory learning styles in teaching focus on utilizing auditory stimuli and techniques to facilitate their understanding and retention of information. Below we’ve provided teaching strategies for auditory learners.

Lectures

Delivering an engaging lecture that includes clear explanations, storytelling and real-life examples stimulates auditory learners. When discussions and debates are used, the oral interaction improves auditory learners’ thinking and comprehension.

Audio Recordings

By offering audio recordings of lectures, readings or discussions auditory learners are allowed to review and reinforce their understanding by listening repeatedly to the content.

Oral Assessments

Incorporating oral assessments, such as presentations or verbal quizzes, provides auditory learners with opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and strengthen their verbal communication skills.

Reading/Writing Teaching Learning Styles

Teaching strategies for reading/writing learners revolve around leveraging written materials and activities to enhance their understanding and retention of information. Below you’ll find some examples of helpful strategies for teaching students who have a reading/writing learning style.

Note-Taking

By teaching effective note-taking techniques, such as creating outlines, highlighting key points or writing summaries, reading/writing learners are given strategies that help them actively engage with the material and organize information in a way that aligns with their learning style.

Writing Assignments

Assigning written tasks such as essays, research papers or reflective journals helps foster reading/writing learners’ comprehension and critical thinking skills. These assignments allow them to dive deeper into the subject matter and express their understanding through written expression. When reading/writing learners are given the chance to reflect on their learning experiences through writing it can deepen their understanding. This practice allows them to consolidate their knowledge, articulate insights and connect new knowledge with their prior experiences.

Text-based Materials

Out of the four primary learning styles for students, the reading/writing learners tend to respond the best to text-based materials. Providing them with reading materials such as textbooks, articles and handouts that present information in a written format and encouraging reading assignments allows reading/writing learners to engage with the content through written text.

Kinesthetic Teaching Learning Styles

Teaching strategies for kinesthetic learners focus on active, hands-on experiences and physical engagement to enhance their understanding and retention of information. Below, we’ve provided a few examples of effective strategies for kinesthetic learners.

Experiential Learning

By incorporating hands-on activities, experiments and simulations that allow kinesthetic learners to actively engage with the subject matter, they are allowed to absorb information and concepts through their senses. These experiences provide opportunities for students to manipulate objects, perform tasks and directly interact with the learning material.

Field Trips

Organizing field trips or outdoor learning experiences that enable kinesthetic learners to engage with the real-world context of the subject connects to their learning pathways. Whether it’s visiting historical sites, conducting field research or exploring nature, these experiences provide hands-on learning opportunities that create a depth of meaning for the kinesthetic learner.

Role-playing

Encouraging kinesthetic learners to participate in role-playing activities and dramatic performances related to the content being taught is important. This approach allows them to physically embody concepts, characters or scenarios, making the learning experience more tangible and memorable.

Games

Integrating educational games, physical challenges or sports-related activities that require active participation taps into kinesthetic learners’ natural inclination for movement and competition, making learning more enjoyable and interactive.

Teaching Learning Styles: The Bottom Line

In conclusion, recognizing and addressing the diverse learning styles present in the classroom is crucial for educators seeking to maximize their students’ educational experience. While the concept of learning styles should not be seen as a rigid framework, it can serve as a useful tool for understanding individual preferences and tailoring instruction accordingly. 

Learning how to teach to different learning styles allows educators to create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that caters to the varying needs of their students. By employing the strategies we mentioned in this article, educators can foster student engagement and promote a love for lifelong learning among their diverse student population.

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In this article, we’ll review the importance of student engagement, provide some practical ideas for creatively engaging students and discuss ways to actually measure engagement in the classroom. 

First, let’s jump in and review the basics. Why is it actually important to engage students? 

Why Is Student Engagement Important?

It’s clear that engaging students—and reengaging students—is crucial for their overall learning and academic success. When students are actively engaged, they become more motivated and attentive, and they contribute to the creation of a healthy classroom environment. Meaningful engagement in the classroom is linked to the following:

Improved Learning Outcomes

Engaged students are more likely to comprehend and retain information, resulting in improved academic performance. When students are actively involved in the learning process, they develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities and a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Increased Motivation

Engagement ignites a sense of curiosity and intrinsic motivation within students. When students are interested in what they are learning, they are more likely to be enthusiastic, participate actively and take ownership of their education.

Positive Classroom Environment

Student engagement fosters a positive classroom atmosphere, where students feel valued and supported. A collaborative and interactive learning environment encourages students to voice their opinions, work together and develop essential social skills.

How to Engage Students

The benefits of student engagement may be obvious, but finding the best ways to engage students—and then maintain that engagement—is the hard part. It’s important to remember that engagement isn’t about finding the one perfect way to keep students’ attention; it’s about taking a multifaceted approach that incorporates a variety of engagement and reengagement strategies.

Rather than expecting to capture students’ attention 100% of the time, we can create classrooms where we name and acknowledge distractions and reground in the learning process. And we can approach engagement in creative, innovative ways that also center students’ social and emotional development.

With that in mind, let’s explore eight effective tools for helping students engage in class:

Start Off Strong

Setting the stage for active learning is an essential step towards achieving your objectives for the day, and there are many ways to get students engaged in class from the get-go. You can kick off your time together with a warm-up or grounding practice—a movement-based physical activity or breathing exercise, a thought-provoking puzzle to figure out in pairs or a one-sentence check-in about a specific question that’s linked to students’ personal experiences.

Transitioning consciously from out-of-class time to in-class time encourages students to focus on the present, while it also honors the larger forces at work in their lives. A strong start can prompt them to engage more deeply in the learning process throughout the rest of the class.

A simple but important way to engage students at the beginning of class is to set the expectations for the day clearly and intentionally. That means not only naming your learning objectives, but also reminding students of the importance of engagement itself. The start of class might also be a time to review any agreements or guidelines you’ve created to promote a healthy classroom culture. Students need to know why engagement benefits them and deepens their learning—and how learning objectives are meaningful to their lives.

Incorporate Technology

We’re living in a world where technology is all around us. Part of what it means to engage students today is recognizing the tools they’re most excited to engage with. Interactive whiteboards, educational apps, VR and AR technologies, online collaboration platforms (like Google Workspace), online discussion forums and presentation tools (like PowerPoint or Prezi) can make learning more dynamic and meaningful. For instance, students can create multimedia presentations, participate in virtual field trips or collaborate on projects using digital platforms, which fosters creativity and active engagement in the classroom.

In addition, livestream events can create imaginative, interactive experiences that capture and maintain students’ attention and meet teachers’ core curricular and social-emotional learning goals. Especially if you don’t have access to more complex technologies, a livestream event can significantly deepen students’ engagement in class in meaningful ways that take some of the burden off of teachers to create complex technology-based assignments.

Try Out Gamification

“Gamification” might be a bit of a buzzword these days, but it’s also a way to make learning more interactive and relevant for a generation of students already living in a game-centered world. Gamification merges elements of meaningful play and deep learning. Consider using educational games, quizzes and competitions to motivate students and create a friendly learning environment. By introducing a fun, competitive element to a lesson, you’re encouraging students to develop a deeper relationship with the material.

Analog games that engage students can be as basic as a bingo competition or mock-Jeopardy! contest. But if you’re able to incorporate digital games or livestream events, they can sometimes do even more to transform complex subjects into exciting adventures. For instance, math games can turn problem-solving into a challenging quest, while science simulations allow students to conduct virtual experiments in a risk-free environment. By introducing game-based learning, educators tap into students’ intrinsic motivation and problem-solving skills.

Integrate the Arts

Meaningful arts integration not only promotes student engagement; it also deepens social emotional learning and serves as a powerful tool for meeting your core curricular goals.

Incorporate music, drama, dance and visual arts into lessons to provide alternative avenues for expression and exploration. You can engage students in creative activities to nurture their imaginations, self-expression and emotional development. 

The arts provide innumerable ways to keep students engaged. Integrate music into various core curricular subjects, such as history, literature and science, and have students create songs or raps that encapsulate historical events, literary themes or scientific concepts. Or use drama-based activities and role-play to bring literature, history or science to life. Students can perform scenes from a novel, act out historical debates or recreate scientific processes through dance and improvisation. 

Arts integration is also a helpful tool for reengaging students. You can use simple theater games in groups, pairs or individually to recenter students in their bodies and refocus their attention on the lesson at hand.

Use Visual Aids

Visual aids are powerful tools to enhance student engagement and understanding. Incorporate charts, graphs, diagrams and infographics to visually represent complex concepts and information. Visual representations help students grasp information more effectively, stimulate their visual senses and improve retention.

You can even engage students more deeply by having them create their own visual aids or artistic representations. Guide students to design visual representations of core curricular concepts, key events or specific character arcs. You can also prompt them to use art to illustrate scenes from a story, depict historical figures or portray scientific phenomena. Engaging students with visual aids and visual art activities helps them understand and connect more deeply with topics they are already reading about and discussing.

Make Real-World Connections

Establishing connections between classroom content, real-world situations and personal experiences is a sure-fire way to make learning more relevant and engaging. It’s always important to help students understand how the concepts they are learning about are applicable to their lives outside the classroom. As they focus on practical relevance, students are more likely to be motivated and actively engaged in the learning process. Journaling, meaningful class discussion and paired sharing can promote personal identification with course material.

Certain kinds of projects can also help engage students in their communities or encourage them to address social issues beyond their personal experiences. You can collaborate with local organizations to create murals, sculptures or public installations that convey meaningful messages, or ask students to research social or political issues that directly affect their neighborhoods or families. If you’re able to bring in guest speakers and experts, they can often help students understand real-world applications of concepts, though often it’s just as effective to invite guests remotely who can connect students with curricular content through livestream learning.

Focus on Collaboration and Teamwork

Engagement can thrive when students collaborate in ways that hold them accountable to each other. Foster collaboration among students by incorporating group work, team projects and peer discussions. Collaborative learning provides opportunities for students to interact, share ideas and learn from one another. 

Group discussions can actively involve all students through open-ended questions or thought-provoking scenarios related to the lesson. You can even use a jigsaw technique to divide a complex topic into smaller components by assigning different subtopics to small groups of students who become experts in their assigned area and then share their expertise with the whole group to create a comprehensive understanding of a topic.

Other collaborative activities, like peer teaching (in which students take turns playing “teacher”), as well as group role-play and simulations, can engage students bodily and emotionally, as well as intellectually. Students can work together to act out historical events, conduct mock interviews or simulate scientific experiments. Students can even engage in collaborative writing projects (both creative and analytical), in which they jointly create stories, reports or research papers. Collaborative writing allows students to build on one another’s ideas, learn from different writing styles and develop their written communication skills.

Pace, Vary and Activate Lessons

No matter how hard we try to pay attention these days, there are constant demands diverting us from the topic or task at hand. One of the most straightforward ways to engage students is to vary your instructional methodology, pay attention to pacing and emphasize active learning.

Use videos and livestream learning opportunities to refocus students’ attention after discussions, lectures or written assignments. Introduce puzzles and brainteasers as a tool for reengaging students after more intensive exploration of a topic. In general, you’ll want to incorporate active learning strategies that encourage students’ participation and involvement in the learning process; try out group brainstorming, problem-solving exercises and hands-on experiments. Be aware too of how much time each activity is taking up—varying instructional time for each type of activity keeps students on their toes and anticipating what’s to come.

How to Measure Student Engagement

Increasing student engagement is great in theory, but how do you actually measure it? The last thing teachers need is one more thing to assess in isolation.

Ideally, assessing student engagement happens in conjunction with assessing student understanding of core curricular material. Formative assessments can be an effective tool for both at once. These assessments are generally low-stakes, often ungraded activities carried out in the midst of an instructional unit. They allow teachers to see if a particular lesson is tough or if the teaching strategies just aren’t connecting with students; educators can then adjust lessons to engage students more deeply going forward. Combining formative assessments with students’ self-assessments and feedback forms even gives teachers a way of documenting and measuring engagement. Let’s finish up here by looking at some methods to measure student engagement:

Observation

One of the oldest tools teachers have for tracking student progress is careful observation of their behaviors, interactions and participation during class activities. Observe both individual students and groups to gain a comprehensive understanding of engagement levels.

Surveys and Questionnaires

Administer surveys or questionnaires to gather student feedback about their learning experiences, interests and preferences. These can be conducted periodically to assess changes in engagement over time. Analyze the responses to gain insights into students’ perceptions of their own engagement.

Self-Assessment and Reflection

Encourage students to reflect on their own engagement and learning progress. Promote self-assessment through journaling, goal-setting or periodic reflections. Students can assess their levels of engagement, identify areas for improvement and set goals to enhance their learning experience.

Formative Assessments

Use formative assessment strategies, like quizzes, exit tickets or short written responses, to gauge student understanding and assess levels of engagement. Formative assessments can even be creative. For example, you could ask students to make short performances that highlight the main points of a reading or illustrate a scientific concept you’ve covered—and then have them evaluate their own participation in the group. Analyze the quality of student responses and their levels of involvement to gain insights into engagement levels.

Conclusion

Engagement in the classroom is crucial for students’ overall learning experience, motivation and academic achievement. By implementing a combination of active learning strategies, incorporating the arts and technology and promoting student autonomy and collaboration, teachers can create an environment where students are actively involved and invested in their education. Even simply acknowledging the attention-dividing culture we live in and supporting students to take control of their own learning process can be transformative. In the end, measuring student engagement helps educators make informed decisions about how to adjust their instruction and improve the learning experience. Every time we make an effort to engage students in meaningful ways, we create a dynamic and stimulating classroom environment that nurtures curiosity and encourages a lifelong love of learning.

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