Episode Summary: In this episode of the Innovative Schools Podcast, host Jordan sits down with Dr. John Almarode, a professor at James Madison University and an expert in student engagement. We will dive into the critical distinctions between engagement and entertainment in the classroom, explore the levels of engagement, and discuss actionable strategies to ensure students are actively processing and retaining information. Dr. Almarode also shares insights from his research on Visible Learning and the importance of making student thinking visible.

Key Topics Covered:

• The definition and importance of student engagement in the classroom
• How engagement differs from entertainment
• The common pitfalls educators fall into when trying to engage students
• The continuum of engagement: active disengagement, passive disengagement, passive engagement, and active engagement
• Strategies for making student learning visible
• How to assess and measure student engagement effectively
• The impact of different teaching methods on student retention and comprehension
• Practical ways educators can shift the cognitive load to students for deeper learning

Key Takeaways:

• Engagement is not a simple yes/no concept; it exists on a continuum.
• Entertainment can grab students' attention, but what happens after is what truly matters.
• Students learn best when they are actively processing, organizing, and integrating new information.
• Making student learning visible through writing, discussion, and reflection enhances retention and comprehension.
• Traditional lecture-based teaching has a low impact on learning, while active strategies like discussion and self-assessment have much higher effectiveness.

Resources Mentioned:

• Teacher Clarity (New Edition) by John Almarode (Available Now)
• How Learning Works Playbook by John Almarode
• How Feedback Works Playbook by John Almarode
• John Hattie's Visible Learning

Connect with Dr. John Almarode:

• Website: johnalmarode.com
• Facebook: John Almarode
• X (Twitter): @JTAlmarode

Call to Action:

• Reflect on engagement in your own classroom: What does it look like? How do you measure it?
• Try implementing one of the strategies discussed to make student thinking more visible.
• Share this episode with fellow educators who might benefit from a deeper understanding of engagement.
• Subscribe to the Innovative Schools Podcast and leave a review to help us reach more educators!

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