Why Should I Care about…? Using Real-World Contexts and Learning-by-Doing to Motivate Introductory Students

Ping Lu, Associate Professor of Physics, Campbellsville University

Motivating introductory students, especially in general education courses, can be a substantial challenge. This discussion-based session will explore the use of real-world, career-relevant contexts and “learning by doing” projects designed to help introductory students recognize the value of various academic topics and/or skills that might be underappreciated and/or outside their current perceived interests. The discussion facilitator will share examples (from Physics) of context-rich problems and in-class activities that invite students to actively try ideas rather than only watch worked examples. Through small-group conversations, participants will consider how similar approaches might translate to their own disciplines and course levels, with particular attention to balancing rigor and accessibility. Together we will identify practical strategies and small classroom “experiments” instructors can use to gather basic evidence about the impact of these methods on student motivation and perceived relevance. This informal, discussion-based session is intended for faculty and instructional staff in any discipline who are interested in increasing student engagement, designing more meaningful assignments, or exploring simple classroom-based research on teaching and learning.

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