Appendix F
Qualities of Engaging Student Work
A critical factor for improving learning lies in providing high-quality work for students- work that engages students, work that enables students to learn what they need in order to succeed in the world. The traits of engaging student work listed below evolved from Dr. Phillip Schlechty's book, Working on the Work . (Note: each of the listed qualities of engaging work below is a hot-link that will scroll down the page to a short description of the trait, along with some examples of what the trait looks like in the hands of the learner - paired with non-examples, for clarity.)
- Personal Response - More than one right answer
- Clear/Modeled Expectations - Student knows what success "looks like"
- Emotional/Intellectual Safety - Freedom to take risks
- Learning with Others (Affiliation) - Learning has a social component
- Sense of Audience - Student work is shared
- Choice - Students have meaningful options
- Novelty and Variety - Learning experiences are unusual or unexpected
- Authenticity - Connections to experience or prior learning