The College would like to develop a framework for how we define and evaluate student engagement in the classroom. From this framework, we will be able to evaluate professional development opportunities and pedagogical methods to increase student engagement in the classroom. This project will require interdisciplinary collaboration to first define student engagement. Once this is defined, a means to evaluate student classroom engagement will be developed.
The first few months of this project will involve gathering data and input to determine how faculty define student engagement in their classrooms. The next stage will be to compile the data into a summary document that outlines various ways engagement can be measured. The document will then be used to develop professional development events provided by the Center for Teaching and Learning focused on increasing classroom engagement.
KPIs:
- Deliverable: Faculty survey collecting data on how engagement is measured in the classroom.
- Deliverable: Student Engagement Framework: Summary document outlining various methods of measuring engagement.
- Deliverable: CTL Professional Development Topics addressing Student Engagement
Baseline Measure:
- There is currently no standardized method on our campus to measure student engagement.
None of the proposed documents currently exist.
Current/most recent Data:
- We are in the development phase.
Goals or Targets:
- By October 15, 2025, have a draft of the engagement measure survey.
- By November 1, 2025, distribute survey to all faculty. Collect results 4 weeks later.
- Target participation rate: 35%
- By January 31, 2026, compile survey results.
- By April 1, 2026, hold focus groups for both faculty and students regarding engagement in the classroom.
- By May 31, 2026, develop 3 professional development events to be held in AY 2026-2027.
Time period/Duration:
- This project will span the AY 2025-2026. Additional work using the data and documents obtained will extend into the next Momentum Plan in AY 2026-2027.
This project is at the very beginning stages. No work has been completed beyond recognizing the importance of defining and measuring student engagement.
The survey is on-schedule for a November 2025 distribution. We are only awaiting IRB approval to collect data.
The Assessment Plan above outlines our key deliverables and the timeline.
Timeline was developed considering other campus event that are tied to survey collection. To avoid survey fatigue, we decided that November is the best time to distribute.
We anticipate that there will be a wide variety of methods varying by instructor and discipline to measure engagement. Compiling and organizing the survey data will likely pose a significant challenge to creating a guiding document. It will require creative thinking to develop a guide that can serve across disciplines.
For the student focus group, we will need to strategically choose the right student population to consult. Choosing students who are already engaged and highly motivated will not necessarily help us to reach the population who needs more support and external motivation to be successful. The initial list of possible participants will be nominated by faculty recommendation from students in their courses that could be defined as the “murky middle”.
