How bad is the "Disengagement Crisis"? | Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop
Feb 26, 2025
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Jenny Anderson, an award-winning journalist and author of "The Disengaged Teen," and Rebecca Winthrop, director at the Center for Universal Education, dive into the crucial topic of teen engagement. They discuss the alarming decline in school enthusiasm and the four engagement modes: passenger, achiever, resistor, and explorer. Highlighting the importance of teaching agency, they offer practical strategies for parents and educators. The duo underscores the need for nurturing curiosity and crafting engaging learning environments to combat the disengagement crisis.
Understanding the four modes of learning—passenger, achiever, resistor, and explorer—enables educators to better support student engagement.
Implementing autonomy-supportive teaching practices is essential for enhancing student agency and creating a more engaging educational environment.
Deep dives
The Importance of Engagement in Education
Engagement is a crucial factor in students' academic success, affecting their grades, graduation rates, and overall well-being. The podcast emphasizes that as students progress through their education, their love for learning significantly declines, with only 25% of high schoolers enjoying school compared to 75% in third grade. This disengagement crisis not only impacts students' performance but also leads to feelings of unpreparedness for real-world challenges. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of student engagement is essential for educators and parents to foster a more supportive learning environment.
Modes of Student Engagement
The discussion outlines four distinct modes of engagement that students often experience: passenger, achiever, resistor, and explorer. Passenger mode includes students who do the bare minimum and are disengaged from their learning processes, while achievers are focused on obtaining grades and validation, sometimes leading to mental health issues. Resistor mode describes students who are critical of the system and act out due to a lack of connection to the curriculum, whereas explorer mode represents students who proactively engage with their learning and seek connections beyond the classroom. Recognizing these dynamic modes allows educators to better support students in shifting towards active and meaningful engagement.
Practical Strategies for Parents and Educators
The podcast offers actionable advice for both parents and educators to enhance student engagement in meaningful ways. For parents, the focus is on nudging rather than nagging their children, fostering discussions around their interests to promote better learning habits. Educators, on the other hand, are encouraged to prioritize engagement as a central goal within the learning environment and to implement autonomy-supportive teaching practices that allow for greater student agency. These strategies can significantly improve students' experience and outcomes in educational settings.
Addressing Systemic Challenges in Education
Despite the challenges posed by traditional educational systems, parents and educators can still make a difference in promoting a more engaging atmosphere for students. The podcast suggests that parents can act as bridges between school learning and real-world applications, reinforcing the relevance of subjects being taught. Additionally, the importance of fostering a culture of engagement is highlighted, emphasizing that it is not an optional add-on but a fundamental aspect of effective education. By shifting their mindset and employing practical strategies, parents and teachers can collectively combat the disengagement crisis faced by teens today.
In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, host Nate McClennen explores the topic of teen engagement with guests Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, authors of "The Disengaged Teen." They delve into the four modes of learning—passenger, achiever, resistor, and explorer—offering insights on how students move between these modes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of agency and engagement in education, providing practical strategies for parents and educators to help students thrive. By focusing on nurturing student curiosity and agency, the discussion highlights how both parents and teachers can make a difference in fostering a love for learning. This episode offers valuable perspectives on how to address disengagement and create more engaging learning environments for teens.