High school is a crucial time in any student’s academic journey. What’s more, it is also a crucial time in their non-academic journey as well. All of the skills and dispositions they pick up at this stage tend to stay with them for the rest of their lives, and may either make or break them.
Naturally, then, it is important for high school educators to make sure that their students pick up only positive traits and skills. And one of these is the ability to develop a high level of passion, interest, and focus in what they are being taught — which is exactly what the entire concept of student engagement entails.
Student engagement refers to the degree of involvement, interest, and enthusiasm that a student has towards their learning. In the article below we examine how important student engagement is for high school students, and most importantly outline a few activities through which high school educators can help improve engagement for all their students.
Student Engagement at High School Level
A high school that prioritizes student engagement is able to keep its students engaged and motivated in their learning. The unique challenge of doing this at a high school level, however, lies in the fact that given their current development, high school students are often prone to a great deal of distraction and rebellion.
Still, fostering a high level of student engagement at a high school level is not impossible. There are more than enough student engagement activities that can help achieve this by making learning fun and exciting.
Before we jump into examining some of the most common of these activities, below is a quick overview of just why student engagement activities are absolutely essential for high school students.
Importance of Student Engagement Activities in High School
Engaging students in high school in activities that help them appreciate and develop a passion for what they are being taught can lead to a series of incredible benefits. Below are just a few examples of these:
Eliminating Distractions - High school students face a variety of challenges and distractions that can make it difficult for them to stay engaged in their learning. Student engagement activities can help combat these challenges and promote a more positive and interactive learning experience.
Laying a Groundwork of Positive Cycle - A high school student, along with being easily distracted, is also quite impressionable. Meaning that the things that they are able to pick up at that point in life tends to stay with them for longer. For this reason, it is imperative that they acquire a love for knowledge acquisition. Student engagement activities can help lay the groundwork of cultivating a deep passion for knowledge, which then translates to hunger and success in their college education and beyond.
Achieving Short-term and Long-term Success - Of course, ultimately, the goal of any form of education is to help students achieve tangible success in life. Student engagement activities can be a way to get closer to this goal. Not only are engaged high school students more likely to achieve academic success in the short-term, they are also more likely to achieve academic success in the future. What’s more, thanks to activities that teach them critical thinking and a passion for knowledge, they are also better positioned to achieve success in various walks of life.
Building Confidence - Lastly, as we’ll see below, student engagement activities can also be a great way to help high school students build confidence. Through group activities, they learn how to communicate and get their voices heard in a group, while through personal activities they develop problem-solving skills and confidence in their own abilities – all of which are important life skills that everyone should develop at that stage of their lives.
Unique Student Engagement Activities for High School
Having understood the importance of student engagement activities for high school students, here are examples of engagement activities unique to high school students.
Mock Trials and Debates
High school students are at an age where they are developing their own opinions and beliefs about various topics. Mock trials and debates provide the perfect opportunity for students to explore these opinions and develop critical thinking skills.
In the process of doing so, it is typical for students to find themselves developing a passion for topics they did not know they were so invested in.
Mock trials and debates can also help students build communication skills and increase their confidence in public speaking.
Service Learning
Service learning is a learning process that incorporates community service projects into the curriculum. Service learning has a lot of benefits to offer to students, and one of these is the fact that it helps them become actively engaged with what they’re being taught.
Additionally, service learning can be particularly meaningful for high school students because they are at an age where they are beginning to explore their role in society. Through this activity, they are able to develop a sense of purpose and realize the value of empathy and compassion for others.
Career Fairs and Workshops
Another fascinating and quite entertaining student engagement activity for high school students is career fairs of career workshops. This form of engaging students is particularly effective for high school students seeing as they are at a point where they are beginning to think about their future career goals.
Career fairs and workshops can then provide an opportunity for students to learn about various career paths, explore their interests, and network with professionals in their desired fields. Along with giving them hands-on participation in what they are being taught, it can also help students make informed decisions about their post-secondary education and future careers.
Student-led Clubs and Activities
The significance of club activities at a high school level, especially when the clubs are led by students, can not be overestimated. Just like many of the points we’ve outlined above, this activity takes advantage of the student’s development stage to provide a solution and a possible pathway for their future endeavors.
High school, being a time when students are exploring their interests and developing new skills, is the perfect time for students to connect with like-minded individuals and pursue their passions. Student-led clubs allow them to do just this. Clubs can range from academic organizations such as math and science clubs to creative clubs such as theater and art.
Conclusion
Student engagement activities are essential for high school students as they help promote a positive and interactive learning experience. Through activities such as mock trials, service learning, career fairs, and student-led clubs, students can develop important life skills and explore their interests.
It is also imperative that as educators try to incorporate these activities, they do so by considering the students’ interests, creating a positive classroom environment, and providing clear and concise instructions.
