Engaged Learners
Student engagement is an important factor in whether or not students learn effectively. Unless students are connected to their learning i.e. engaged, little will be learnt. Student engagement can be interpreted in various ways but in Engagement in Australian Schools Fredericks et al provide a framework for considering engagement that distinguishes between cognitive, behavioural and emotional engagement.
How can Aussie Active Desks promote student engagement?
Cognitive engagement
When cognitively engaged, students concentrate, focus on achieving goals, are flexible in their work and cope with failure. Engagement in Australian Schools.
By allowing students to stand up and move their bodies using a sit-to-stand desk more blood will flow to their brains enabling them to concentrate and focus better on their learning tasks.
Behavioural engagement
Behavioural engagement refers to students' participation in learning and classroom activities. Engagement in Australian Schools
Several studies about classroom standing desks have reported improved student behaviour.
Classroom standing desks and sedentary behavior: a systematic review
Standing classrooms: research and lessons learned from around the world
In particular, in a study of nearly 300 children in second through fourth grade regarding the effective of standing desks over the course of a school year, researchers found a 12% greater "on-task" engagement, or an extra seven minutes per hour of engaged instruction, in classrooms with standing desks.
Emotional engagement
Emotional engagement refers to the relationships students have with their teachers and peers and the identification they feel with their school and its learning practices.
Sit-to-stand desks provide flexibility in the way students learn (including group work at desks), a sense of student ownership about their own learning, and the freedom to move their bodies more in class. These feelings can enhance the way students feel about their learning, teachers and school.
