The recent All-Faculty Meeting recognized Lisa-Ann Barnes, who won the Distance Learning Innovation in Online Course Design Award, and this year’s Distinguished Teaching Award Winners: Kimberly Pusateri (Undergraduate Programs), Mac Steele (Professional Development Programs), and Amul Chapla (Graduate Programs). Each award recipient shared their thoughts on student engagement, highlighting practical strategies on varied parts of the classroom experience: assessment design and feedback, cognitive dissonance, real-world relevance, and case studies and storytelling.
Kimberly Pusateri emphasized how, by treating feedback as a continuation of the assignment rather than the end, she creates a relational moment for inspiring curiosity in student and instructor alike. She designs assignments that she’s excited to read herself, and she sparks ongoing dialogue with her impactful and personalized comments.
Amul Chapla explained how he designs his assignments to balance clear expectations for his students alongside the freedom to choose, and the chance for them to go beyond and learn even more. He encourages students to select projects tied to their personal interests or real-world challenges, while still meeting defined requirements and integrating advanced AI tools.
Mac Steele shared the value of cognitive dissonance and active learning as meaningful ways to deepen the connection and understanding, drawing students into the material. By presenting provocative ideas and encouraging learners to wrestle with them on their own terms through discussion, writing, or role-play, he helps students internalize concepts in lasting ways.
Lisa-Ann Barnes emphasized how stories matter in education: as students see others facing and resolving issues similar to their own experiences, they can apply the lessons to their own lives and feel more connected to the learning. That’s why her online courses move beyond “read and click” content by incorporating storytelling, expert voices, and real-world case studies.
![“Students must choose [on their own] to engage in content. So the question becomes, how do we make it enticing, interesting, and valuable so they move forward in learning? Therefore, case studies rooted in real-world scenarios encourage students to apply concepts in meaningful ways, keeping them engaged while building practical skills.”](https://sites.northwestern.edu/spsdl/files/2025/09/Untitled-4.png)