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
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.
