A Teacher’s Guide to Student Engagement

You may think having students who want to be at school and learn from their teachers sounds to good to be true. But that’s what schools that focus on increasing student engagement are seeing. More than coming to class and turning in homework, engaged students are enthusiastic about their education and have a desire to excel in their classes. If you want to see your students succeed, you must figure out how to engage them in the learning process.

A custom sign with classroom rules and a plaque with an inspirational quote, each designed to increase student engagement.

What is student engagement?

In education, student engagement refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education.

How does student engagement affect learning?

Multiple research studies have found that students who arrive on time, pay attention in class and complete assignments are more likely to get higher grades and graduate on time. On the flip side, studies have found that students who do not pay attention or participate in classwork have lower grades and are less likely to graduate on time. Because student engagement directly impacts student performance, it is essential for teachers to recognize when students are engaged and increase that level of engagement.

How can you tell when students are engaged?

There are three types of student engagement: behavioral, cognitive and emotional.

Behavioral Engagement is when students actively participate in the learning process. They show up on time, turn in their homework and bring the materials they need for class. They also participate in class discussions, do what their teacher says and consistently try their best.

Cognitive Engagement is when students try to learn as much as they can. Not only do they pay attention in class, but they also ask thought provoking questions and go beyond what you ask them to do.

Emotional Engagement is when students have a positive outlook on their educational experience. You can tell students are emotionally engaged when they treat you and their classmates with respect and approach schoolwork with optimism.

To know how invested your students are in their education, look for all three types of engagement. If you only concentrate on behavioral engagement, you may overlook students who feel left out or need to be intellectually challenged.

What makes student engagement challenging?

Keeping students engaged is hard, both in a classroom setting and an online learning program. In a classroom, you have to teach all of your students at once. This makes it hard for you to determine how quickly you should go through a lesson. If you go too fast, some students will get frustrated as they fall behind. If you go too slow, other students will lose interest as they wait for the next activity

The difficult part about teaching students online is that they can get easily distracted. Not only can they get lost in browsing the internet or playing video games, but they can also get disrupted by other people who do not realize they are in class.

Online learning also makes it hard for students to connect with the class emotionally. If students feel that they don’t have a relationship with you or their classmates, then they are less motivated to participate in discussions or do their homework.

Student Engagement Strategies

Now it is time to plan how you will increase student engagement. To help you get started, here are some ideas that apply to almost every grade level. And they work for classroom and online teaching.

Behavioral Engagement Strategies

Students will know how to behave when you give them class rules to follow. List your class rules on a custom sign or plaque, and hang it where students can see it. Make sure to include a rule about students treating each other (and you) with respect so that everyone has a positive experience.

Get more students to participate in class discussions by putting each student’s name on a name tag. When you have a question for the class, draw a name tag out of a box and ask that student to answer it. This strategy prevents the same students from answering all of the questions. It also motivates your students to stay alert because they never know when their name is going to be chosen.

Another way to get students to stay alert is to use blank ribbons as attention signals. Hold up one color ribbon to say when it is time to listen and another color when it is time to discuss. Using these visual cues helps your students know what to do and stay engaged throughout the lesson.

Cognitive Engagement Strategies

Motivate your students to do their best by coming up with learning objectives for your class. Learning objectives show your students what they can achieve if they pay attention and complete assignments. Once they understand how your class benefits them, they will take it seriously. To keep these learning objectives on the forefront of their minds, add them to a custom sign or plaque for all your students to see

Keep your students focused on their schoolwork by making educational bookmarks for them. Use Custom Top Ribbons to make full-color bookmarks that teach grammar rules or math formulas that will help students with their homework. Your students are sure to appreciate these learning tools and use them for textbooks and other class materials.

Part of keeping your students engaged mentally is giving them a chance to unwind. To make this easy, customize name tags with a wide variety of mental breaks (e.g., sing a song or play rock, paper, scissors) and put them in a jar. When it is time for a mental break, take a tag out of the jar and have your students do that activity.

Emotional Engagement Strategies

Get your students excited to learn by decorating your classroom with ribbons, plaques and more. Even if you teach online, decorating the room you are in with bright colors and custom designs will stimulate your students’ imaginations. Hang a ribbon chandelier from the ceiling or drape a ribbon garland along a wall. Give your whiteboard a little flair by lining the edges with a brightly colored ribbon. To decorate your desk, customize an acrylic plaque or desk wedge with an inspirational quote and graphic.

Emotionally engage your students by helping them get to know you and their classmates better. Customize badge ribbons with a wide assortment of positive characteristics, such as Life of the Party or Proud Computer Geek. Have each student wear these ribbons during class by attaching them to their shirt. (Don’t forget to wear ribbons that describe you.) By using these descriptive ribbons, your students will emotionally connect to you and their classmates as they see (literally) how much you all have in common.

Students will have a positive attitude toward learning when you make it fun. Use paper inserts to play trivia and other games with your students. While you are at it, why not throw in some friendly competition with spelling bees and other contests. Don’t forget to pass out Achievement Ribbons so your students will always remember the fun they had in your class.

What engagement strategies have worked for you? Share them in a comment so other educators can benefit from your expertise.

Improve Performance Through Student Engagement

No matter if you are teaching online or in person, keeping your students engaged in the learning process will improve their school performance. They will earn better grades, score higher on tests and graduate on time. So what are you waiting for? Put custom name tags, ribbons, plaques and signs to work for you so your students will reach their potential.

The Best Name Tags for a Low Budget

From blank tags to reusable badges, these name tags are the perfect solution for companies on a tight budget.

Name tags may feel like a luxury that your business can go without, especially when you have a tight budget. However, name tags are necessary for achieving business success. When everyone at your workplace wears a name tag, customers feel comfortable working with you. They see you and your colleagues as people, just like them, who can relate to their needs. The more customers feel comfortable doing business with you, the more sales you will have. If you want to not only survive but thrive in the business world, then having company name tags is a must.

Fortunately, providing name tags for your whole team does not have to be a financial burden. There are plenty of low cost alternatives to traditional, permanently engraved name tags. And, they look just as professional too.

Check out these high-quality name tags (or name badges) that go easy on your budget while still making a great first impression.

Conference Name Tags

Full-color, laminated name tags work just as well for everyday office work as they do for conferences. Because they are meant for large events, they come at a low price, making them a low cost solution for your identification needs. Use them to take control of your brand by customizing them with the colors, graphics, logos and text you need to promote your business. Once you see your new name tags in all their full-color splendor, you will want to keep them around forever.

Blank Name Tags

Looking for highly durable name tags that fit your budget? Plastic and metal Name Tag Blanks are made from the same quality material as our laser engraved name tags. Not only are they made to last, but they are also reusable. Just print the names and titles you need onto adhesive labels and stick them onto the name tags. If you want the text to be more permanent, write directly onto the plastic or metal surface using a marker. Customize the size, color and fastener for these blank name tags so they go well with your company uniform or dress code.

Badge Holders with Paper Inserts

By far the most affordable solution, badge holders are a professional choice for any company on a tight budget. They are made of quality vinyl plastic and come with reliable fasteners such as bulldog clips, magnets and pins. When you use them with colorful paper inserts, they make a positive impression on your customers. Use thicker badge holders for your full-time employees and thinner ones for temporary staff (e.g., interns, volunteers) to save on business costs. If your staff does not like to wear name badges on their clothing, pair your badge holders with lanyards.

Reusable Name Badges

Quality reusable name badges are not only affordable, but they save you tons of money in the long run. Whenever you have a change in position, these badges let you replace names and titles on demand using printable inserts. By replacing old inserts with new ones, your company’s identification is up to date within minutes.

Mighty Badges™

With a metal back plate and domed lens, these reusable badges give your business a professional style. Choose name badges with a blank background or with a UV color logo to promote your brand. These badges also come in different sizes and various shapes (rectangles, ovals and squares) so you are sure to stand out from your competitors.

Speedy Badges

Each badge features a plastic, window style frame with a forward curve to give it a distinct look. Add a name and title by sliding an insert into the frame and placing the clear lens over the top. With a pin or magnetic fastener on the back, these badges will hold in place throughout a typical workday.

Name Tags for Any Budget

Whether you are a start-up company, small business or large corporation looking to cut costs, these name tags are for you. They go easy on your budget while giving you the quality you deserve. As you use these quality name tags to identify your employees, you will see an increase in sales as customers come to trust your company’s ability to meet their needs.

3 Sets of Products That Work Better Together

From the simplest of pairs to the most personalized sets, here’s a list of all of our products that work better when paired together.

Badge Holders & Lanyards

Let’s get started with the most basic and well-known personalized product: badge holders. They are so underrated, and we think that’s a shame. Badge holders are great for so many things. From identification needs at conventions to at-home DIY projects, these unique products are downright perfect.

And, with printable inserts, badge holders are products that are only limited by your imagination, and maybe your printer. Add graphics, logos and any text you need for any event or craft. They come in several sizes and either a horizontal or vertical orientation. From lightweight to heavy duty, these vinyl badges are perfect for any need.

Don’t limit a badge holder to an event staple at your next conference, convention or trade show. They are so versatile that they will last through any meeting. And, they are an excellent benefit for schools to use as visitor passes. Retail environments also get significant reuse from these identification products when using them for seasonal employees.

Now, let’s pair these badge holders with the power of a lanyard!

Whether it’s a chain or full-color printed ribbon, lanyards have a power all to themselves. They are perfect for branding for any company or event. Keep essential items close at hand with a lanyard. And, you can find these tools anywhere you find badge holders. After all, badge holders come with a slot at the top specifically designed to go hand-in-hand with a lanyard.

And, with the variety of available lanyard styles, materials and colors, they provide an excellent source of advertising. Design your lanyards with logos, graphics and text to make them stand out. Even more important, make sure that your design flows with your badge holders. When used together, these two identification products provide multiple functions for a variety of events and situations.

Badge Holders & Badge Ribbons

badge holders and badge ribbons are two identification products that pair well together

We’re beginning to sense a theme here. Badge holders are making another appearance.

Badge holders and badge ribbons, it’s all in the name! They really do go hand-in-hand with each other. But, this time they are being paired with badge ribbons. These ribbon products are a fantastic tool at any conference. They help identify different participants and vendors. Badge ribbons are available with stock or custom titles so no one will be left out.

Badge ribbons are often used to promote brand recognition, events, sales and to market services or products. Add a ribbon to the bottom of a badge holder to make someone stand out in a crowd. Or use them for DIYs and home crafts. But, no matter what you use them for, remember to grab a badge holder to go with them.

Name Tags & Name Plates

Yes, you may not think that these two identification products work better together, but we beg to differ.

pair a name tag and a name plate together and make all of your identification products work well together with matching colors and logos

No matter how big your company is, using your brand is what makes you stand out. Your logo represents not only you and your company but also your brand and overall commitment to your clients and customers. And, in the name tag world, using your logo consistently on all personal identification products helps to define and identify you and your company.
From colors to logos, consistency matters. So, finding the right consistency with logos, colors and fonts helps to solidify your message. By defining what your brand is up front, you help establish your company as an industry leader. Find a way to keep your logo and text the same on all name tags and name plates. A company who ensures that their brand is well developed will retain and obtain connections with their clients and customers.

So, lesson learned. Never underestimate the power of combined identification products. Let them work for you, and your job will be even easier.

Influencing Identity: A Better Way to Blog

Influencing Identity is here to help you figure out how to use name tags and identification products.

Plastic engraved sign with an explanation of Coller Industries Incorporated's personal identification blog Influencing Identity

From name tags for your business to badge holders for your next conference, we have it all. Get all your identification needs in one place and find out how to use them at work, while networking and at any event you are planning. Use our how-to articles to get your ideas flowing for working with all of your personal identification.

From Name Tag Experience to an All-Inclusive Influencing Identity

We started as “Name Tag Experience,” but over the years we’ve branched out to so much more than name tags. And to keep up to date with that expansion, we have changed our name to Influencing Identity. We have thrived as Coller Industries Incorporated over the past 20 or so years, as our focus and mission have always remained the same “To Serve Our Customers.” We accomplish this mission by providing fast and friendly service with only the highest-quality personal identification products.

It isn’t just the name tags!

Coller Industries Incorporated's personal identification blog Influencing Identity

Yes, we sell name tags, reusable badges, name plates, badge holders, lanyards and signs. But, we’re so much more. Influencing Identity has a wealth of information with product highlights and how-to articles to get your creative ideas flowing. This blog (by Coller Industries Incorporated) has helped customers like you learn how to best utilize name tags and other products for their specific needs. From tutorials to strategies, discover how custom identification will help you grow your business and promote your brand.

Coller Industries Incorporated broadens the blogosphere with a new long-form content platform and renames two product and idea based blogs.

Coller Industries Incorporated's event planning and informational blog The Learning Center

The Learning Center is full of articles about learning how to host the best event ever, networking with colleagues and so much more. We guarantee that the information you find here will help you and your business. With a wide range of products such as ribbon rolls, rosettes, name tags, lanyards and award plaques, we want to make sure that you know how and where to use them. Whether you’re planning the best conference anyone will ever attend or hosting a simple dinner party, The Learning Center is here to make sure you are using these tools in the best possible ways.

Coller Industries Incorporated's personalized ribbons blog Ribbon Impressions

Ribbon Impressions provides information about everything from custom ribbon roll ideas for your wedding to badge ribbons for a conference or convention. And don’t forget about rosette ribbons for your award needs, such as fair or festival prizes. Find all your ribbon needs in one place and learn how to best use them at events, during promotions and for your corporate gifting. Discover inspiration for using personalized ribbons and find useful how-to articles.

Plan the Perfect Event With Quality Name Badges

From conferences to seminars, every event needs quality name badges.

Personal identification is key to any event whether it’s a conference, seminar or trade show. As an event host or planner, you want your attendees to enjoy networking at your event. And, when they do, they are more likely to return again next year. Use quality name badges to put people at ease and make your conference or seminar a success.

What’s In A Name?

Knowing someone’s name makes people more comfortable socializing with that person. With each attendee sporting a name badge, people will have a positive networking experience at your event.

Which type of name badge you use depends on your specific needs. Each one comes with many positive features and all of them are great for networking. Here are a few options to help you find the right fit for you.

Adhesive Name Badges are perfect for when you need a quick, short-term option. The adhesive will stick to almost any clothing and works well with any dress code. Have attendees write their name on these sticky tags using a pen or marker. Or, print their names in advance for faster registration. These name badges also come in five different colors so you can divide attendees into groups or identify them by their job position for easy networking.

Badge Holders are commonly used for conventions, schools, security and visitor passes. And like with Adhesive Name Badges use the different colored inserts to separate attendees into groups or categories to keep your event organized. Slip a printed insert inside a holder for easy identification. Once the event is over, collect each badge holder for reuse. They also come with different fastener options including punched slots to use with custom lanyards.

Conference Name Tags provide you with a pre-printed solution that is also budget friendly. Each tag is laminated to give your conference badges a professional style. Available in three standard sizes, customize these name tags with full-color logos or graphics. Like Badge Holders, they come in a horizontal or vertical orientation with multiple fastener options.

Whichever name badges you need, what matters is having quality identification to impress your attendees and create a positive networking event.