Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Twelve Questions to Measure Student Engagement

Self-Determination Theory is a scientific theory of what makes people happy, engaged in life, and mentally well-adjusted. In the theory, individual well-being is driven by personal competence, autonomy in life, and relatedness to other people.

This is evident in the 12-question survey developed by the Gallup Organization to measure employee engagement. When reading the questions, I wondered whether replacing "employee" with "student", and the other necessary changes, would measure student engagement in class? You tell me from the modified questions below.

Twelve Questions to Measure Student Engagement

(1) Do you know what is expected of you at work (in class)?
(2) Do you have the materials and equipment you need to do your work right (complete your assignments correctly)?
(3) At work (in class), do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?
(4) In the last seven days (During class), have you received recognition or praise for doing good work?
(5) Does your supervisor, or someone at work, (teacher) seem to care about you as a person?
(6) Is there someone at work (in class) who encourages your development?
(7) At work (In class), do your opinions seem to count?
(8) Does the mission/purpose of your company (school) make you feel your job (class) is important?
(9) Are your associates (fellow employees) (fellow students) committed to doing quality work?
(10) Do you have a best friend at work (at school)?
(11) In the last six months (Since beginning class), has someone at work (school) talked to you about your progress?
(12) In the last year (Since beginning school), have you had opportunities at work to learn and grow?