Student involvement and commitment to learning increases when an instructor uses a variety of research-based motivation techniques during every class. Fostering an atmosphere that is engaging, open and positive will help students find personal meaning and value in the material you present.

• Believe in all students – that they can succeed; communicate this with them
• Get to know students individually and personally: backgrounds, interests, reasons for taking the course
• Share professional research interests and experiences
• Make content relevant to all students’ lives; clearly link concepts/lessons to industry, a broader purpose, future classes/activities, or a transferable skill
• Engage students’ emotions to see their potential to make the world a better place
• Promote growth mindset and students’ resilience by shifting attention to problem solving,  appropriately scaled challenges, and working through failure
• Support students when working in groups
• Provide opportunities for students to teach and learn from their peers
• Use content and connections that align with your current group of students’ backgrounds, interests, and reasons for taking the course
• Share your enthusiasm, professional research interests, and experiences with the content
• Teach from everywhere in the room, not just from behind the podium