Students are often motivated by different things. For some it is the sense of academic achievement, while for others it is developing new knowledge and skills they can use to prepare for a new career. All students may engage in different levels of participation and effort, as well as have different performance abilities. Thus, finding different ways to help students think, perform, and learn are important for academic success.

One approach to achieve this goal is to get students to think beyond the classroom. This can be done in your weekly comments, discussions, during feedback, or during an end of module wrap-up. A few examples are shared below:

1. Associate the course or course concepts with current events and examples. This approach brings the course to life, linking it to real-life practical applications.
2. Share a personal story that relates to a difficult concept. Sometimes students need to look at complicated concepts from different angles to fully grasp them.
3. Be inspiring by sharing something unique, such as one of your favorite quotes. So much can be said in only a few words.
4. Discuss a concept that is new to the field, or identify areas where growth is emerging in a specific sector that relates to a course. These examples help students define their own interests and future opportunities.
5. Think "outside of the box" about other ways you can fully engage students.

Of course, these methods are just one aspect of the learning experience. Staying in constant contact with each student is critical, making the experience personal for each of them. Students know through discussion posts and personal messages whether their instructor is always there to answer questions and share personal experiences and feedback. For students who struggle in the discussion area, beyond thorough feedback, ask them neutral questions to help them clarify their own thoughts.

These approaches not only add interest and fully engage students, but the strategies allow an instructor to challenge and motivate students to achieve academic success.

Faculty Spotlight:

Brad is an accomplished professional and Adjunct Faculty with GCU. He has expertise in areas of public safety,
management, and conflict resolution. Brad began his career in law enforcement and later transitioned into a health care
management role. Brad holds a M.S. in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and a B.A. from the
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in Sociology and Criminal Justice. As a Mediator, he has also facilitated legal
disputes, having received specialized graduate training at Marquette University.