At the most basic level, a student's attendance is the very cornerstone of engagement. By showing up each day and on time, a simple level of respect is being given to the classroom and the student's own education. Assignments when given to challenge students and seek to gauge their level of understanding of the course materials can also be an excellent way to monitor and assess student engagement in the basic materials.
One of the most basic and immediately noticeable levels of student engagement is that of active listening on the part of both students and educators. Active listening can be expressed through physical manifestations, such as straight posture, eye contact focused on the current speaker, note-taking and the occasional sign of call-and-response such as a nod of the head or laughter at a humorous point in a discussion. The less tangible aspects of active listening take place within the individual -- being respectfully silent, listening to what is being said while attempting to remove personal bias, seeking to understand before jumping to conclusions -- and can sometimes lead to pointed questions or a rephrasing of what the speaker has just said at times appropriate to engage in discussion.
When the time comes for discussion or action, students show that they listened to the information already shared by the educator or peers and they take on roles within projects or create individual projects that reflect comprehensive understanding of the materials presented. A student's willingness to actively participate in discussion or projects is a strong sign of engagement with the topic and the other members of the classroom. Open-ended discussions, relevant materials and projects that involve a choice of topics or methods can inspire greater engagement in students.
Beyond the classroom, a student's dedication to the educational environment can manifest in participation in clubs, team sports, music groups, artistic endeavors that support the school, fundraising and discussion at school meetings. All of these areas of school community are intrinsically linked to each student's education, and thus, indicate a willingness or passion to be a part of the school outside of a basic academic level. These connections help strengthen a student's role in the classroom as learner and participant.
Projects both within and outside of the classroom environment encourage social skills, including working within a group and utilizing the strengths of their peers to accomplish a complex task. For students, and especially adolescents, becoming socially involved in a project within their school and taking responsibility for the role given within that project can be both a sign of engagement as well as encouraging further action within the academic setting. Because collaboration can allow leadership roles to surface or students to show off their strengths, collaborative projects become a proving ground that can lead to student self-confidence.