Student engagement is the intensity of behavior,
emotional quality and personal effort of an active
student to involve in learning activities (Reeve,
2005). Student engagement has a correlation with
improvement of academic achievement (Finn &
Rock,1997 and Marks,2000 in Harris, 2011).
Furthermore, student engagement is also associated
with improving students' sense of belonging to
schools or other social institutions (Willms, 2003 in
Harris 2011). While Beeland (2002) states that
student engagement is one important factor that is
useful for the evaluation process of a teaching
method.
Student Engagement according to Natriello (in
Apleto, Christenson & Furlong, 2008) is a student
participation in activities that are part of school
programs. Meanwhile, according to Newmannn,
Wehlage & Lamborn (in Appleton, et al., 2008)
student engagement is a psychological investment
and effort deployed by students to the learning,
understanding or mastery of a knowledge, skills or
work that become the goal of academic activities.
Meanwhile, Reeve (2005) states that the student
engagement is the intensity of behavior, emotional
quality and personal effort of an active student to
involve in learning activities.
Fredicks et al. (2004) states that student
engagement is indicated by: (1) Behavioral
engagement. Behavioral engagement is
characterized by participation and involvement of
the students in academic and social activities. These
behaviors will appear from regulatory compliance,
involvement in learning activities (attention to
lessons, questioning and participation in
discussions), and participation in sporting activities
as well as school class organizations (Fredricks et
al., 2004). This is considered very important in
achieving positive academic outcomes and
preventing dropping out of school (Connel, Finn in
Fredricks et al., 2005). (2) Emotional engagement.
Emotional Engagement refers to the affective
attitudes, interests, assessments and affirmations of
students to the class, teachers, classmates or school
(Connell & Wellborn, Skinner & Belmont, Lee &
Smith, Stipek in Fredricks et al, 2005). This is
important to foster a sense of student interest in their
educational institutions and affect the willingness of
learners to learn (Connel, Finn, in Fredricks et al.,
2005). (3) Cognitive engagement. Cognitive
engagement refers to the concept of investment,
students are willing to exert the effort needed or
even more than necessary to understand a material
or mastery of an ability. Fredricks et al. (2004)
explained that cognitive engagement includes
motivation to learn and using cognitive and
metacognitive strategies in thinking and learning.
Skinner & Belmot (1993) argued that students
who have low level of student engagement will
appear passive, not trying hard, bored, easily give up
and display negative emotions, such as anger, blame
and rejection. Meanwhile, according to Connell
(1990); Finn & Rock (1997); Marks (2000), student
engagement is related to learning achievement. If
students have high student engagement, students will
get high learning achievement, on the contrary if
student engagement is low, student achievement will
also be low. Therefore, it can be stated that students'
low learning achievement is assumed to have
problems related to student engagement.
Researchers are interested in conducting research
related to student engagement, especially for private
junior high school students in Bulak District,
Surabaya City. Bulak sub-district of Surabaya is an
area located on the east coast of Surabaya which still
has characteristics as a coastal community. Although
the livelihoods are quite diverse but there are still
many people who live as fishermen. The education
level of the population in this region based on 2015
data indicates that 36.6 percent of the population in
Bulak sub-district have completed primary school,
27.6 percent of the population are educated at Junior
High School, 23.6 percent of the population are
educated at senior high school, 5.8 percent of the
population is educated Bachelor degree and 5.9
percent of the population are undergraduate
educated, and 0.5 percent are post-graduate educated
(in Kurnia, 2017). Number of school facilities, in
this case is Junior High Schools, are also limited.
Based on data from
http://referensi.data.kemdikbud.go.id/, the number
of Junior High Schools in Bulak sub-district are only
4 schools consisting of 2 State Junior High Schools
and 3 private Junior High Schools.
Based on the interview with some teachers who
taught in several private junior high schools in the
area, that their students' learning involvement was
still lacking. They have to be forced to go to school.
Sometimes they also have to be threatened that they
cannot take the exam or they will be failing the
grade if the don’t discipline come to school.
Students also often leave school before the time to
go home, or when the teacher is explaining the
students sleep or talk to each other. Schools also find
it difficult to invite students to do extra-curricular
activities if not required. Even during the national
exam, the teachers must pick up their students to
come to school and take the exam.
Learning Motivation as Predictor of Student Engagement in Private Junior High Schools Students
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