Creating Engaging Lectures and Discussions For Students
Boost college student engagement in any format with simulations, case studies, and interactive strategies that improve learning and retention.
Techniques That Work in Any Format
As instructors, we all struggle with keeping college students engaged during lectures and discussions. Whether online, in person, or hybrid, our approaches have to align both with our organizational values and mission, but also with the needs of our students. We deal with short attention spans, busy schedules, and multiple competing demands. As instructors we must evolve beyond traditional lecture formats to engage and inform our students. To do this, I incorporate simulations of various kinds, goal-oriented questions, role play scenarios, and case studies that can improve retention of content and relatability.
What I see in courses at all levels is that most students want to learn. But they also want to apply what they learn, be able to relate to what is taught, and they like to be challenged to solve real-world problems. So, I have pivoted from primarily lecture to primarily activity. This allows my students to gain more insights into how situations evolve, and how to respond in ways where they can see results, vs just seeing if they got an answer correct or not. By customizing the experiences as much as possible, we reach the student interests, driving their discussions and decisions to things they would want to see.
Rather than just talking about a case, I rebuild it to match student majors and/or extracurriculars, allowing them to see a direct correlation between things they already are connected with and the concepts that are being discussed. Every student has different interests, but students in a major may have similar work aspirations. In capitalizing on those similarities, I can build stronger teams within the classroom as well, allowing for a more thorough level of engagement with my students. The format of the course does not matter. As facilitators, we can still run the room; we just don’t have to because our students feel more confident in their ideas.
Case Studies
Case studies are one of the most effective tools for illustration of ideas we discuss, especially when they are cases I personally create, based on my experiences and student experience and ideas. The ability to be part of the concept creation is also helpful in gaining engagement, whether it be more questions or more involved answers. I showcase the practical application that they may actually see in their everyday lives and careers. The increase in engagement and critical thinking when students can have input as to how they study and interact is amazing, and well worth the time taken to customize.
Questions of “What would you do next?” or “What would you do differently?” go a lot further when students can see how it may impact their career or family. You no longer have just a Q & A session; you have active listening and involvement because students really want to know what they can do to change the outcomes and affect the solutions.
Simulations
I use simulations in almost every class, to add more interactivity but also to give students a view that each decision has an impact, no matter how small. Simulations are a great way to achieve this and provide exceptional talking points. When students simulate various business activities, such as running a business,a department, or a negotiation, they experience the results that they were part of creating. Those results could be horrific, but students then are able to learn the “why” and the “how” of their own decisions, vs it being “looked” at in a book. In most cases, they also get the feeling of being in a true work team, and also what it means to not be in a working team.
Students want to make choices and decisions. But they also want to see the results of those choices, vs just getting a grade. Simulations allow students to do these things much more than lecture can. Simulations also build additional content based on those decisions, allowing students to be the primary factors in “riding the wave” of success of their decisions, or having to fix the “ultimate failures” of their decisions. The result is much greater understanding of the content and how their decisions impact situations.
Asking Relatable Questions
We all struggle with students that are just there. It is great we have bodies in the seat, but as instructors, we want to have interaction. Getting that to happen is not always easy. By asking questions that resonate with their goals and values, such as “How would this behavior affect you in your dream job?” or “What difference would this make to your community if you had the option to make changes?”, we have the ability to gain more engagement and more questions as well. We foster more problem solving because students see the direct correlation between their response, the content, and something they care about. The discussions go further than the classroom.
Students Remember What They Did
A lecture is content, and we talk AT students. But a well-structured activity which could be a case study, a simulation, or advanced questioning conveys more than just the content. These techniques can create impressions that last and help formulate ideas that might not have been explored by those students. When students engage in these activities that can be tied to their own goals, they take more direct ownership in what they learn.
With over 13 years in higher education and corporate training, along with 20 years of leadership experience in Business Management, including Operations, HR, and Accounting, I am passionate about helping individuals and organizations grow. My background spans roles such as General Manager, Operations Manager, HR Director, and Corporate Trainer, where I have guided teams, developed talent, streamlined processes, and improved the bottom line. Whether training professionals, teaching business courses, or leading teams, my goal is always to empower others with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
