What is Engaged Time

The design of learning does not often emphasize on how much high-concentration “focused time” and other time learners spend on particular endeavors: reading, viewing, listening, writing, assessing, problem-solving, researching, communicating, collaborating, and others. And yet, how time is spent in purposeful learning—in assignments, fieldwork, research, collaboration, invention, co-design, and assessments—is thought to have a clear impact on the learning and the learning experience. This work explores some of the research in the area of time in learning and proposes some methods for including “focused time” design and time awareness in instructional design for online learning, particularly given the available tools for learner check-ins, time monitoring, and other tools.