Engagement:
Optimize Relevance

Individuals are engaged by content and activities that are relevant and valuable to their interests, goals, and communities. In an educational setting, one of the most important ways educators recruit interest is to highlight the utility and relevance of learning and to demonstrate relevance through authentic, meaningful activities.

Everybody has a goal

Everybody in a classroom has at least one goal for being there, even if those motivations aren’t clear to you or even themselves. They could be there to:

Learn industry skills to be a successful manufacturer
Get their degree so they can qualify for a job
Intellectually stimulate themselves
Figure out what they’re interested in and who they are
Be a part of a community

Often, students have multiple goals and interests in any given lesson or course. When these goals and/or interests are aligned with the learning goals, students will be more motivated to learn.

For students who want to learn industry skills

For students who want to get a degree and qualify for a job

For students who want to explore their interests

For students who want to learn industry skills

Emphasize real-world applications

Use case studies, simulations, and problem-based learning to illustrate how skills are applied in professional settings. Bring in industry-specific challenges for students to solve.

Share anecdotes and experiences

Invite guest speakers, share practitioner stories, or use your own experiences to make concepts tangible. If possible, connect students with professionals for mentorship or job-shadowing opportunities.

Design tasks that allow for rich feedback opportunities

Create opportunities for peer and instructor feedback that mirror workplace evaluation methods. Use rubrics, self-assessment tools, and iterative design processes that encourage continuous improvement.

For students who want to get a degree and qualify for a job

Clarify the academic importance and weight

Explicitly connect course content to degree requirements, certification pathways, and professional qualifications. Show students how their coursework builds toward their credentials.

Connect instruction to job standards

Align assignments with real-world job expectations. Use industry frameworks, competencies, or employer-identified skills to structure learning objectives.

Provide opportunities for documentation

Encourage students to create digital portfolios, resumes, or LinkedIn profiles showcasing their work. Offer guidance on how to articulate their skills to potential employers.

Highlight the available jobs in Ohio

Provide up-to-date labor market information, job postings, and employer connections. Feature industry partnerships, apprenticeship programs, and local career events to ground students in regional opportunities.

For students who want to explore their interests

Provide tasks that allow for exploration and experimentation

Use interdisciplinary projects, low-risk skill-building activities, and choice-based assignments to let students try different areas of interest. Encourage job shadowing, internships, or career discovery activities.

Invite personal response, evaluation, and self-reflection to content and activities

Use journals, discussion prompts, or multimedia reflections to help students process their experiences. Encourage them to assess what excites them, what they find meaningful, and where they see potential career paths emerging.