Unpacking the Concept of Student Engagement

Abstract

This chapter examines the construct of student engagement by reviewing relevant literature, and comparing, contrasting and critiquing the various definitions favoured by a range of researchers, institutions and other stakeholders. It describes the evolution of the concept of student engagement and reviews the dominant paradigm prevalent across North America and Australia, and an alternative paradigm adopted in the UK. It goes on to explore how the various dimensions associated with the current concept and its measurement has been constructed from a range of pre-existing conceptual frameworks. It moves on from these macro-level insights to discuss, at a more detailed level, indicators which have been observed to influence student engagement, and the resulting national, gendered and disciplinary engagement characteristics.