Keeping Students Connected

Every student begins their educational journey with potential waiting to be unlocked. Yet, despite the best intentions of educators and schools, student disengagement remains one of the most significant challenges in Australian education. According to research collected by Psych4Schools, up to 20% of students disengaged from school in any given year, it's crucial to understand how we can identify, support, and re-engage these students before they become lost in the system.

Understanding Student Disengagement

There are some unsurprising statistical factors that can predispose students to becoming disengaged, such as children from low-income backgrounds, those with special educational needs, and those with mental health issues (Institute for Public Policy Research). Disengagement rarely happens overnight. Instead, it's typically a gradual process influenced by various risk factors that we can group into four key areas:

Diminished Sense of Autonomy

Students often disengage when they feel they've lost control over their learning experience. This manifests in several ways: they might feel overwhelmed by what seems like an insurmountable workload, or they could be grappling with external stressors that impact their ability to focus on learning. Mental health challenges, particularly anxiety and depression, can significantly affect a student's sense of control over their educational journey. When students feel they have limited input into their learning process, their connection to education can begin to weaken.

Impacted Sense of Competence

Academic confidence plays a crucial role in engagement. Many students fall into patterns of low expectations, creating self-fulfilling prophecies that further distance them from academic success. They might struggle to see the connection between their efforts and achievements, leading to a cycle of negative self-assessment. Unaddressed learning difficulties and knowledge gaps can compound over time, making it increasingly difficult for students to maintain their engagement with learning.

Weakened Sense of Belonging

The social aspect of education cannot be underestimated. When students feel isolated within the school environment, their engagement naturally suffers. This isolation might stem from limited positive interactions with peers and teachers, or a broader disconnect from the school community. Building meaningful educational relationships becomes increasingly challenging, further reinforcing feelings of disconnection.

Reduced Sense of Relevance

Students need to see the value in their education for engagement to flourish. Many struggle to connect curriculum content with real-world applications, creating a perceived gap between academic learning and personal interests. This challenge affects students across the academic spectrum - even high-ability students may disengage if they don't find sufficient challenge in their studies or understand how their learning connects to their future aspirations.

The Year 9 Challenge

Recent data shared by ABC news highlights a particularly concerning trend in Year 9, often termed ‘the Year 9 dip’. NAPLAN data reveals that 35.3% of Year 9 students perform below proficiency across literacy and numeracy domains. Perhaps more telling is the decline in attendance rates from 90.5% in 2014 to 85.2% in 2023. This critical period, coinciding with significant developmental changes and the transition between middle and senior schooling, requires special attention from educators and school leaders.

Early Identification, Early Intervention

While certain disengagement factors may be beyond a school's direct control, early warning signs are often detectable. Changes in academic performance, shifts in attendance patterns, modifications in behaviour, and signs of social withdrawal can all indicate potential disengagement. Recognising these signals early allows for more effective intervention strategies.

Leveraging Data for Student Success

Modern education requires smart solutions for complex challenges. Today's Student Information Systems (SIS), Learning Management Systems (LMS), and School Management Systems (SMS) provide powerful tools for tracking student engagement patterns. For instance, TrackOne Studio's ‘Focus Student’ functionality enables schools to establish automated alerts based on key indicators such as attendance thresholds, behavioural incidents, assignment completion rates, and wellbeing indicators.

Empowering Students Through Goal Setting

Research from the NSW Department of Education, which we covered in a previous blog, demonstrates the transformative power of student-led goal-setting. Their decade-long study reveals that when students take ownership of their learning through structured goal setting, they show marked improvements in educational aspirations, academic engagement, classroom participation, and overall school satisfaction. This approach not only enhances academic achievement but also helps students develop crucial self-management skills.

Building Meaningful Educational Relationships

Strong teacher-student relationships are a must for keeping students engaged with school. As said in this article by Edweek, relationships between educators and students are foundational for improving student attendance, retention, and fostering a sense of belonging. Successful engagement strategies often centre around structured one-on-one check-ins and the creation of inclusive classroom environments. When educators show authentic interest in student perspectives and implement targeted mentoring programs, they create opportunities for meaningful connections that support student engagement.

Comprehensive Support Networks

Successful student engagement requires a multi-faceted support approach. Schools can provide robust internal support through counselling services, learning support specialists, career guidance professionals, and peer tutoring initiatives. However, the most effective engagement strategies extend beyond the school gates.

Family partnership plays a crucial role in maintaining student engagement. As Dr Jordana Hunter notes via ABC News, If caregivers believe school is important and talk about why it matters, teenagers are more likely to believe it too. Regular family communication and involvement opportunities strengthen the school-home partnership, creating a unified approach to supporting student engagement.

Engaging Resources and Tools for Modern Learning

Today's educational landscape offers numerous resources that can help reinvigorate student engagement. Digital platforms, when thoughtfully implemented, can transform traditional learning experiences into interactive journeys that resonate with students' daily lives.

There are heaps of resources out there, we’ve put together a small list of what’s available online for Australian students, their parents, and educators.

• The Australian Curriculum website provides excellent resources for differentiated learning approaches.
• Beyond Blue's dedicated Be You program offers valuable resources for both educators and students.
• The Student Wellbeing Hub, supported by the Australian Government, offers free resources tailored to different year levels and learning needs.
• The myfuture website, Australia's national career information service, helps students see the connection between their current studies and future opportunities.
• For students requiring alternative pathways, organisations like TAFE Victoria’s Learn Local providers offer vocational education programs that can run parallel to traditional schooling.
• Learning Potential is a website resource library developed by the Australian Government, provides parents with practical tips and resources to support their children's learning at home.
• For educators seeking to enhance their engagement strategies, the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) provides comprehensive professional learning resources.

Moving Forward

While student disengagement presents ongoing challenges, particularly during the teenage years, schools can implement effective strategies through a combination of data-informed early intervention, student-led goal setting, strong support networks, and enhanced parent partnerships. By maintaining this comprehensive approach and regularly reviewing and adapting strategies, schools can better support students through their educational journey, helping them stay connected and engaged through to graduation.