Together We Can Tackle the Engagement Challenge!

Keeping your students engaged is an ongoing and often onerous and thankless task. Between endless distractions, shifting learning environments, and the sheer diversity of needs in the classroom, getting students to genuinely connect with their learning is no small feat.  And then there are certain times of the year (upcoming holidays, spring break and summer for instance) that make it an even tougher challenge.  

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re the only one struggling to spark that engagement, let us reassure you: you’re not alone.

But here’s the good news: there are ways to bridge the gap. And, no, it doesn’t always mean reinventing the wheel or working around the clock.

From rethinking classroom routines to harnessing the power of technology—or simply finding small ways to connect—we’ve got you covered. 

Here are 3 of our favorite real-world, use-tomorrow strategies:

ASSIGN KIDS TO MAKE A 60-SECOND SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL

Challenging students to make a Super Bowl commercial for a unit concept is a fun, engaging, and self-directed way for students to learn key concepts in a unit.

This commercial could obviously be a filmed video, but another option for tech savvy kids is to challenge them to create an animated commercial on PowToon.

PowToon takes confidence. There’s a bit of a learning curve but it’s relatively intuitive with a bit of practice. The primary downside to this platform is that all sound files have to be MP3.

Your students may have used PowToon in another class; if not, you’ll be amazed at how quickly they learn to manipulate all the awesome tools. This prompt can be used in any subject at any grade level. Simply make a list of the key vocab terms, events, ideas, and figures from your unit, then assign one to each student.

Here’s an example of an engaging, challenging, and fun prompt:

• Create a thirty- to sixty-second Super Bowl commercial marketing a concept from the unit. Explain why this concept is important and needs to be included on the assessment.
• Include beautiful images in your commercial.
• The commercial must be uploaded to YouTube. Uploading a video directly from the PowToon platform to YouTube is a breeze.

After all the videos are completed, it’s time for the Super Bowl Viewing Party. As classmates watch their peers’ commercials, they should record their thoughts about the advertisement and determine whether they think it would be a good test question. And finally, students can vote on which commercials they like best.

Voting categories might include:

• Best Voiceovers
• Best Images
• Best Content
• Most Compelling

SEND STUDENTS ON A SCHOOL-WIDE SCAVENGER HUNT

We keep our students penned up all day in confining desks. This game will liberate kids and allow them to roam around like freed puppies. They’ll be grateful … AND they’ll be engaged in material that otherwise might be dry or boring.

• Decide what big concepts you want your students to grasp from the lesson.
• Create a number of prompts that will lead to deep investigation. The beauty of this challenge is in the way in which you’ll deliver these prompts via a QR Code Scavenger Hunt.
• Next, produce QR codes. Please don’t be intimidated by this step. Class Tools has a remarkably easy-to-use QR Treasure Hunt Generator.
  • Merely type in the questions and answers, and then Class Tools generates the codes. Visit classtools.net to get the details and try it out.
  • Print out these codes and find hiding places for the codes around the school building.
• Create a Hint List to help students search. For example, if you have ten essential questions from the lesson content, create ten QR codes that lead to each prompt.

Here’s an example of a Hint List (and the answers):

1. Finding this one could take you to another level (elevator)

2. On the back of a warning (on the back of the “No Firearms” warning on the front door)

3. Where I get my Old School messages (in your mailbox in the main office)

4. These kids looked great in 88 (the Class of 1988 composite in the main hall)

5. Behind something black and gray (on the back side of a trash can in the hallway)

6. If you find this one . . .YOU’RE REALLY ON A ROLL! (on the large paper rolls in the supply room)

7. If you don’t find this code, your prospects of winning will be extinguished (on an obscure fire extinguisher)

8. Open this door and find an awesome relationship (on the back side of the office door of a favorite administrator)

9. If you get to the bottom of where this code is placed . . . I’ll be shocked (on the bottom of the defibrillator in the basement)

10. Search this virtual tool we use daily (on the “About” section of Google Classroom)

ENROLL YOUR STUDENTS IN PHOTOJOURNALISM

The cliché A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words is not only well-worn but also very true.  

Think of these five iconic images from American history:

• The painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware.
• The WWI Uncle Sam recruiting poster.
• The Marines hoisting the flag on Iwo Jima.
• Lyndon Johnson taking the oath of office beside a stunned and bloodstained Jackie Kennedy.
• Associates of Dr. King standing over his body, pointing toward an assassin.

Do any of these descriptions conjure up mental images? Do they inspire emotions, or perhaps personal narratives? If you weren’t familiar with some of these images, did you Google the description out of curiosity?

The best way to truly internalize an event, a fact, or a person’s story is by seeing an image to go along with the words.

Challenge your students to become photojournalists and tell a story with images. For example, prompt them to create a Google Slides presentation. The great thing about creating such a presentation is the image search feature in Google. It automatically finds usage-appropriate images for students. Another win: using images properly is an essential practice for students to learn.

Another option is for students to create their own images. For example, when teaching about Chinese landscape art, encourage your students to capture a landscape. Here are a few options:

• Most students may snap a photo with their phones.
• However, a few brave souls might actually draw their submissions.
• There are very cool phone apps such as Prisma that you can use to make a photo appear like an amazing painting. 
• What about AI-generated art? Do a bit of research to find the best tool for student use (and what’s allowed in your school), teach students to create the best prompt possible, and see what they come up with! (Hint: check out AI Goes to School for a whole chapter on this.)

A picture is worth a thousand words, so save your breath and liberate their imaginations!

A Final Word

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or someone supporting learners in any capacity, we know the stakes are high. Engagement is the cornerstone of meaningful learning and, without it, even the best lessons or plans can fall flat.

Together, let’s transform those moments of disengagement into opportunities for growth.

So, grab your coffee (or tea), take a deep breath, and let’s jump into this challenge with curiosity and optimism. Engagement might be tricky, but it’s not impossible. And you’re not tackling it alone.

Need more suggestions concerning high schoolers, engagement, and assessment prep? Read this invaluable article from Andrew Fultz on Edutopia.org!

Read the Article, Get More Strategies 

Gentle = Strong

In a world where tough often means you're in control and kind means you're a pushover, don't believe it.

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• AI Goes to School by Micah Miner
• Hacking Engagement by James Alan Sturtevant 

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Resources

• Bored student image by Photo by Monstera Production from Pexels
• Fultz, Andrew. “Simple (and Fun!) Differentiated Review Practices.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 18 Dec. 2024.
• Part of this text is taken from Hacking Engagement Again: 50 Teacher Tools That Will Make Students Love Your Class by James Alan Sturtevant.
• Students image by Mohd Oqba Bin Abdul Malek from Vecteezy

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