Previously, we discussed the crucial role of engagement in achieving academic success. We examined why having a singular focus on results is a recipe for disengagement, and how stress and anxiety can hijack our brain’s focus.
When these states are triggered, the brain regions responsible for attention become preoccupied with identifying and responding to perceived threats. This reallocation of mental resources away from the current task compromises focus and productivity.
Is Disengagement the Fault of the Student?
You often hear this phrase: “My child just isn’t interested in studying.” Parents often hold their child responsible for their disinterest in learning. Is it fair to blame an audience for losing interest, turning to their phones or choosing to leave the movie early?
Just as a wilting flower is rarely blamed for its own shortcomings, but rather seen as a victim of unfavourable circumstances – insufficient sunlight, poor soil quality or lack of water. Similarly, student disengagement is seldom a personal failing but a symptom of a larger issue within the learning environment.
A common example would be a teacher lecturing in a classroom, where students are expected to remember and understand the material. While effective for communication, it is less effective for long-term retention as it often leads to rapid information loss and decreased engagement in learning. In contrast, when learning resonates with our natural processes, it results in deeper understanding and becomes harder to forget.
Another example would be the pace of instructions in a classroom. This can be a huge challenge in group settings where every student is at a different level. Maintaining an optimal pace is essential for sustained engagement. If the pace is too slow, students may become bored and disengaged. Conversely, if the pace is too fast, students can become confused or frustrated.
Another factor impacting student engagement is the one size fits all approach to instructions. Students can often interpret the same instructions differently, which can result in some students falling behind, when in reality, they just needed a different set of instructions and feedback to grasp the material.
How Most Parents Kill Their Child’s Love of Learning?
For most children, school and exams are perceived as imposed obligations, involving pointless and monotonous activities that feel disconnected from their future goals. It is challenging to get a child engaged in learning when they feel this way.
Most parents often try to motivate their child by promising future success if they study hard and get good grades. This approach often fails as young children tend to live in the moment and find it difficult to connect their current actions with long-term rewards.
Young children struggle to understand the idea of future success. Promises of future rewards can seem distant and unimportant to their immediate wants and needs. Without seeing immediate benefits or connections to their lives, kids may become discouraged and lose interest in learning.
Using external rewards to motivate like promising future success or holidays can weaken a child’s natural drive to learn. When children are constantly motivated by tangible benefits, they start to associate academic pursuits solely with rewards they yield rather than the inherent satisfaction of intellectual growth.
Rather than using methods that hinder your child’s development of lifelong learning, follow to discover practical and actionable tips to engage your child in part 5.
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