Student engagement

Understanding student engagement and behaviour, and how to support students who display dysregulated behaviours, are universal concepts in education. Students who are engaged in their learning not only achieve greater outcomes in school, but in other areas of life such as employment and connectedness to community.  

The Academy’s evidence-informed professional learning assists educators and leaders to create safe and supportive learning environments that improve student engagement, learning and wellbeing outcomes.

Professional learning

Thought Leadership Series
Short webinars that connect you with experts on topics such as classroom management, cultural safety, competency and inclusion, and teacher burnout. Learn effective behaviour management strategies to engage learners and create a positive learning environment.

Leading Quality Conversations
Develop the high-level communication skillset to enhance your interpersonal effectiveness, collaboration and problem-solving capabilities, lending to trusting relationships that can improve student outcomes.

Innovating for Student Engagement
This course supports you to build students' capabilities and interests, actively working with the physical, social and emotional needs of adolescents. Understand the 3 forms of disengagement and engagement, to improve student engagement and boost learning.

Preventing and Managing Conflict
Become competent and confident in preventing and managing conflict with students, parents and carers, colleagues and the community. Identify and manage triggers and use a framework to de-escalate emotional responses to establish or rebuild positive relationships.

Lead, Empower and Thrive with Emotional Intelligence
Learn to better understand yourself and others so you can connect, communicate and influence in the classroom. Implement strategies that prioritise wellbeing and enhance the emotional culture of your school.

Cultivating Agency in Learning
Understand and strengthen the relationship between learner agency and improved literacy and numeracy outcomes. Unlock your students’ full potential to support deeper learning and personal growth.

Resources

Below is a broad suite of resources to support effective classroom management, and positively impact students’ engagement and motivation.

From Good Intentions to Learning Engagement with Helen Street
This video examines the factors that influence and guide students’ ability to engage in positive behaviours and learning.

Student Engagement with Yong Zhao
This podcast encourages you to think critically about the role of teachers and leaders in supporting student engagement.

Dr Judy Willis on the neuroscience of learning
These short videos will help you gain a deeper understanding of the influencing factors on learning and the neuroscience behind it.

Dr Gary Stager and the new, now, wow in technology
This podcast challenges educators to consider alternative methods for engaging students.

Six behaviour management tips for teachers
This blog provides 6 essential behaviour management tips that can serve as a checklist as you begin the school year or teaching a new class.

How to build positive teacher-student relationships
This blog provides 2 evidence-informed practices to improve teacher-student relationships and discusses referent power.

Victorian Department of Education

• Student Engagement Policy
• Behaviour – Students Policy
• Behaviour – Students Guidance
• Student Engagement – Guidance for Schools
• Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO 2.0)
• FISO 2.0 Implementation Guide
• School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support Framework (SWPBS)
• Respectful Relationships Student Voice Practice Guide (Amplify)
• High Impact Wellbeing Strategies

Australian Education Research Organisation

• Engaged classrooms through effective classroom management