ABSTRACT
Scholars and school professionals have identified student engagement as critical to student success in school. Although student attendance can be mandated, student participation or engagement in learning involves a complex interaction between children and their learning environments (Appleton, Christenson, & Furlong, 2008) and is an essential protective factor that promotes students’ positive educational and social outcomes (O’Farrell & Morrison, 2003). As research focused on student engagement has progressed, scholars have developed an increasingly sophisticated and specific understanding of student engagement that distinguishes between a myriad of related concepts (Appleton et al., 2008; Unrau & Quirk, in press). Research has focused on measuring and examining facilitators, indicators, and outcomes of student engagement. Scholars have recognized that there are individual student factors as well as school system factors related to student engagement (Sharkey, You, & Schnoebelen, 2008). This chapter provides an orientation to student engagement including definitions, theories, facilitators, indicators, and outcomes. Future directions and practical implications conclude the discussion.
