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Table 2 Descriptions of students’ in-class behaviors that indicate they are engaged or disengaged. Adapted from: Lane and Harris (2015)

From: Modeling students’ behavioral engagement through different in-class behavior styles

Engaged

Disengaged

Listening: Student is listening to the lecture. Eye contact is focused on the instructor or activity and the student makes appropriate facial expressions, gestures, and posture shifts (i.e. smiling, nodding in agreement, leaning forward)

Settling in/packing up: Student is unpacking, downloading class material, organizing notes, finding a seat, or packing up and leaving classroom

Writing: Student is taking notes on in-class material, the timing of which relates to the instructor’s presentation or statements

Unresponsive: Student is not responsive to the lecture. Eyes are closed or not focused on instructor or lecture material. Student is slouched or sleeping, and student’s facial expressions are unresponsive to instructor’s cues

Reading: Student is reading material related to the class. Eye contact is focused on and following the material presented in lecture or pre-printed notes. When a question is posed in-class, the student flips through their notes or textbook

Off-task: Student is working on homework or studying for another course, playing with phone, listening to music, or reading non-class-related material

Engaged computer use: Student is following along with the lecture on computer or taking class notes in a word processor or on the presentation. Screen content matches lecture content

Disengaged computer use: Student is surfing web, playing a game, chatting online, or checking the e-mail.

Engaged student interaction: Student discussion relates to class material. Student verbal and nonverbal behavior indicates he or she is listening or explaining lecture content. Student is using hand gestures or pointing at notes or the screen

Disengaged student interaction: Student discussion does not relate to class material

Engaged interaction with instructor: Student is asking or answering a question or participating in an in-class discussion

Distracted by another student: Student is observing other student(s) and is distracted by an off-task conversation or by another student’s computer or phone