From Pushing Back to Driving Learning: Understanding the Engagement Continuum

From pushing back to driving learning, engagement isn’t just about following directions—it’s a continuum from resistance to full ownership. When we plan professional learning on positive and engaged learning communities, we know that we have to engage our teachers, and ‘walk the walk’. (No pressure, ha!).

The engagement continuum is a resource that we use with teachers and with students to move beyond compliance, shifting from coasting to actively taking the wheel of their own learning. Our role is to help learners get in the driver’s seat with purpose, using these guiding ideas:

Beyond ‘On Task’ –  Compliance doesn’t mean engagement. True engagement involves curiosity, connection, and a sense of purpose.

Small Shifts, Big Impact – When students reflect on their own engagement, have choices, and see relevance in their learning, they move from passive participation to active investment.

Engagement as a Skill – Engagement isn’t an on/off switch. When teachers and students recognize where students fall on the continuum, they can make intentional shifts—whether that means increasing participation, fostering curiosity, or building ownership.

Learning takes off when students go from idling to actively steering their own engagement, and we’ve been working with schools to make that happen.  Interested in bringing this work to your school? Let’s connect.

Based on the work of Berry (2020) and Fisher, Frey, & Quaglia (2021)