Often, those writing about engagement describe the feelings and sensations associated with engagement as happening while the learner is immersed in the cognitive or behavioral activity. Internal motivation may lead us to take some action; for many, engagement refers to what we experience during the activity. That may be true, but business consultant Jeffrey Tobin (2016) describes the distinction between intrinsic motivation and engagement this way: "Motivation: What's in it for me? Engagement: What's in it for us?"
Consider your priorities related to student work. We (rightfully) rejoice when students find an author they love, undertake research to explore a question of interest, or write a compelling opinion piece. We often work diligently just to get students to that point, and well we should—intrinsic motivation is critically important to all of us! Engagement, like intrinsic motivation, is internally driven, but our experience of engagement goes beyond motivation. The engaged learner isn't only interested in herself; she ponders how a topic or issue impacts others, and she considers how her thinking, emotions, beliefs, and/or actions might affect those around her. An engaged learner has a strong sense of purpose. There is something to be learned that reaches far beyond the words on the page or the immediate experience.
To to be clear—no one can (or would want to) spend all their time deeply engaged as described above. There is a need for compliance, participation (particularly when it has more to do with collaboration), and internal motivation. We need children to comply with our admonitions to look both ways before they cross the street and to refrain from striking another child when they become angry. We want children to be helpful participants in a classroom community, and internal motivation is often the launching pad for engagement.
Most teachers agree, however, that we want the proportion of children's time to tilt toward intrinsic motivation and engagement. If we take the long view—what we want children to be able to think, feel, believe, and act upon, not just twenty days or weeks, but in twenty years, and not only for themselves, but on behalf of others—it will become clear that engagement is one of the most crucial learning tools we can help children develop. More important, however, engagement is a significant part of what makes us feel truly alive.
To learn more about Engaging Children visit Heinemann.com