Learning Science Lab | Student engagement

Student engagement is a cornerstone of effective teaching and learning and is critical in achieving meaningful student outcomes. Engaged students are more likely to retain information, apply what they learn, and develop skills that are relevant to their future careers.

For business school faculty, fostering engagement can seem challenging, particularly in large classes or when teaching technical content. However, there are evidence-based strategies you can utilize to enhance student engagement, drawing from both educational research and practical classroom experience.

Set clear expectations and objectives

Provide clarity around course expectations and learning objectives. Ambiguity can create anxiety and disengagement among students, so it’s essential to outline what is expected of them both in terms of coursework and behavior.

Clear expectations reduce anxiety and allow students to focus their energy on learning rather than trying to decode instructor requirements. Likewise, a syllabus with well-defined objectives provides a roadmap for students, helping them understand the purpose of the course and how it connects to their personal and professional goals.

• Articulate the relevance of each activity and assignment to future business scenarios
• Explicitly state learning objectives using action verbs (e.g., “analyze market conditions” rather than “understand markets”)
• Use transparent grading rubrics to ensure students understand how their performance will be assessed
• Provide a clear roadmap of how course components build upon each other
• Explain the rationale behind major assignments and their relevance to students' professional development

Create an inclusive and personalized learning environment

Business school classrooms often bring together a diverse cohort of students, with different cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds. Inclusive teaching practices can help ensure that all students feel welcome and valued, which in turn promotes engagement.

Students engage more deeply when they feel that their individual perspectives and experiences are valued. Learn and use student names (even in large classes, attempt to learn a few names each session).

• Incorporate diverse business cases and examples that reflect various industries, cultures, and contexts
• Provide multiple ways for students to participate (e.g., verbal discussions, written responses, online forums)
• Be explicit about inclusion strategies to help students feel seen and supported

Use active learning techniques

Active learning has been repeatedly shown to enhance student engagement and improve learning outcomes (Prince, 2004). Rather than passively receiving information through lectures, students in an active learning environment are encouraged to collaborate, discuss, and apply concepts.

In business education, some effective techniques include:

• Think-Pair-Share: Give students a business problem to consider individually, then discuss with a partner, before sharing with the larger class
• Case Analysis Groups: Small groups analyze business cases and present their solutions
• Collaborative Projects: Team-based assignments that mirror real-world business collaboration
• Role-Playing: Simulating business negotiations or client interactions

There is a wide selection of active learning techniques you can deploy, from simple in-class exercises to highly prepared scenarios. Large or small, they all provide opportunities to enhance student engagement. Check out our Activities page for more ideas.

Make learning relevant

Students engage more deeply when they perceive clear connections between course content and their future careers (Ambrose et al., 2010). And business students are often motivated by tangible outcomes, so connecting classroom activities to skills and knowledge that will serve them in the workplace is key. You can achieve this through a number of strategies:

• Use real-world business cases and current events
• Incorporate contemporary tools and technologies (e.g., having students analyze AI's impact on their intended industry)
• Invite guest speakers from relevant industries
• Create assignments that simulate actual business challenges
• Explain explicitly how each topic relates to professional practice

Build on prior knowledge

Effective teaching doesn't start from scratch; it builds on what students already know. One way to assess and leverage prior knowledge is to conduct a survey at the start of the course. This can help you identify students’ existing competencies, areas of interest, and potential gaps in understanding.

Once you understand what students already know, you can better tailor your instruction to bridge those gaps and connect new concepts to familiar ones. For example, in a course on marketing, students may already have an intuitive understanding of branding from their consumer experiences, which can be expanded into more complex discussions on brand strategy.

• Conduct prior knowledge surveys at the start of the course
• Begin each unit by connecting new concepts to previously covered material
• Ask students to share relevant work or internship experiences

Promote student autonomy

When students feel ownership over their learning, they are more likely to be invested in the material. One way to promote autonomy is by creating opportunities for students to take responsibility for their own learning.

This encourages them to take initiative and become more active participants in the learning process. Consider a Q&A forum where students answer each other’s questions. Here, students have the opportunity to engage in peer teaching, which can enhance learning outcomes for both the learner and the teacher.

You can also support autonomy by allowing students to choose the format of certain assessments or projects, tailoring them to their own interests. This not only makes the learning experience more personalized but also encourages deeper engagement as students pursue topics that resonate with them.

• Create student-led Q&A forums where peers help each other understand course concepts
• Allow choice in assignment topics or formats
• Build opportunities for students to teach or present to their peers
• Involve students in establishing class norms and discussion guidelines

Engaging students effectively requires intentional design and consistent effort, but the research is clear that it pays dividends in terms of learning outcomes. As you incorporate these techniques into your teaching, you will likely see students who are not only more engaged, but also better prepared to apply their learning in meaningful ways.

References

• Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M. C., & Norman, M. K. (2010). How learning works: Seven research-based principles for smart teaching. Jossey-Bass.
• Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of engineering education, 93(3), 223-231. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2004.tb00809.x