Academic Remediation: Educational Applications of Research on Assignment Preference and Choice

Within educational settings, students are not typically allowed to se­ lect their academic activities. Instead, teachers assign specific activities (e.g., complete assignments, respond to recitation questions, read si­ lently, conduct laboratory experiments). However, students do have op­ tions. Students can choose to engage in assigned academic activities or a variety of other behaviors including passive off-task behaviors (e.g., orienting oneself to an assignment while day dreaming) or disruptive behaviors (Shapiro, 1996).