3.2 Building a Content Page Foundation (Read)

Providing context for instructional materials is crucial for student engagement and learning effectiveness. To support faculty in establishing clear context, we have developed a comprehensive guide and template titled "Establishing Context for Instructional Materials: A Faculty Guide" This template serves as a starting point to help faculty understand the key elements that establish proper context for instructional materials and answer the students' question, "What's in it for me?" (WIIFM). While the template is not a requirement, it provides a foundation that faculty can customize to fit the specific needs of their course.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the key elements that a content page should include to establish the right context
  • Apply the provided template to create contextual content pages for instructional materials

Key Takeaways:

  • Structured Approach to Providing Context: The "Establishing Context for Instructional Materials" guide offers a structured approach to providing context.
  • Customizable Template: The template within the guide is a starting point that faculty can customize to fit their course needs.
  • Enhancing Learning Experience and Supporting Success: Adapting the guide and template to specific course requirements enhances the learning experience and supports student success.

Reviewing and applying the "Establishing Context for Instructional Materials" guide is essential for faculty members looking to enhance student engagement and learning effectiveness in their courses. By understanding the key elements that establish proper context and utilizing the provided template as a foundation, faculty can create content pages that effectively communicate the relevance and purpose of their instructional materials. Failing to provide context and answer the WIIFM question can lead to student disengagement, decreased motivation, and ultimately, a less impactful learning experience.

To get started, simply download the guide in Word document format and follow the provided instructions. The template within the guide will walk you through the process of creating contextual content pages, prompting you to fill in relevant information such as the introduction, learning objectives, key takeaways, relevance and consequences, call to action, and the instructional materials themselves. Once you have identified the key elements needed to establish proper context for your instructional materials, we encourage you to experiment with different formats that better suit your individual needs.

Instructional Materials: