Meaningful Learner Engagement in Classroom

• What is the essence of engaged learning?
• “There is now a massive amount of evidence from all realms of science that unless individuals take a very active role in what it is that they're studying, unless they learn to ask questions, to do things hands on, to essentially recreate things in their own mind and transform them as is needed, the ideas just disappear." - Howard Gardner
• In the above case therefore, engaged learning helps students to understand what is being learned, encourages constructivism and generally reduces the work of a teacher to that of a supervisor. 
• Is technology a critical role-player in engaging learners?Technology is a critical role player and can be observed in the Venn diagram below

• What are the limitations of technology in engaging learners?

However the limitations of technology like WhatsApp, Face-book  as  learning tools is that they are as well a social media tool. It is a destructor because as students carry out the lesson activities, other messages pop in from out side school in the social media arena and students turn to reading personal messages which divert them away from the lesson.

The use of smart phones,Podcast and Ipads excites learners but in our school in Uganda, mobile phones are not allowed in classrooms and even at school for the learners. This can limit the meaningful learner engagement.