Why engaging learning materials matter isn’t simply about providing a great learning experience; it’s also about offering material that engages students. When offering materials, teachers need to choose a material that reflects students’ interests and provide a rationale for their choices. In addition, teachers need to challenge every student in the class. Below, we’ll discuss four ways to create engaging learning materials. This way, students are motivated to learn more.

Engagement

In face-to-face classrooms, instructors can observe their students’ engagement levels. But in an online setting, they cannot. That’s why online instructional materials must be carefully structured to keep students’ attention. Their attention level will be reflected in their assessments. This way, the teachers will maximize the chances of their students mastering the learning objectives. The following tips can help online instructors shape their holistic learning materials for optimal engagement.

The first step in engaging students is to identify their interests. By engaging students with materials that will help them express their ideas and thoughts, the teacher can gauge how actively they participate in class. The best ways to engage students include brainstorming, role-playing, and discussion. These methods will allow teachers to know how well their students understand what they are learning. Then, the teachers can customize the learning materials for a particular student. It is essential to realize that students need to be motivated to succeed.

Challenge

The challenges in creating engaging learning materials have been described as complex and widespread. Often students arrive late and technical problems can derail the class. Good time management will help you deal with these issues. Set aside five minutes at the beginning of class for late students. Likewise, do not wait too long to begin the course. If you have a long class, you might risk losing a student who is late. However, you can also prepare yourself in advance for these challenges by keeping your content straightforward.

The study also identified the most frequently used strategies, including resource management, help-seeking, technical aptitude enhancement, time management, and control of the learning environment. Although each of these strategies is effective for specific challenges, they differ in how frequently they are used. Students generally use different methods to overcome challenges when using online learning materials. Here are some strategies they used to overcome the challenges. 

Usability

A good learning resource should be usable. Whether a student can finish a task efficiently, how easy it is to find the correct information, or how quickly he can complete the assigned tasks are all key factors. A learning resource’s usability can be improved by involving the end-user in the development process, even before creating wireframes. A highly experienced developer may not have thought of all of the potential problems a novice user might encounter, so usability rating alone is not a reliable measure.

Expert evaluators use different techniques to determine usability. One technique is heuristic evaluation, which involves hiring an expert panel. Expert evaluators observe interfaces to decide whether or not they meet the established usability principles. The skill of the evaluators can have a significant impact on the results, and this method of evaluation is usually less expensive and more effective than user testing. The ideal usability tester is a double expert in learning materials and can help identify obvious problems in learning material.

Relevance

What motivates students to learn? One important factor is relevance. The relevant nature of a course allows students to relate the material to their own experiences, knowledge, and future learning. This creates a bond between the student and the teacher, making learning relevant for both parties. Relevance is essential for students of all ages. However, it becomes more important as they age and begin to develop a career or take required classes.

Considering the local context of the learning materials is particularly important, as it provides a more relevant context. For example, a textbook in South Africa might focus on local legislation and discussions on equity and demands for redress. On the other hand, the American book approached the topic from a different point of view. It was also relevant for Sihle because of the particular cultural background of the student. She learned about the audience’s culture, lifestyle, and interests from a local business rather than a foreign corporation.