When you design your course, it is not enough to align objectives, assessments, and materials. You also need to help students understand how everything fits together. Without clear context, students may see course content as disconnected pieces instead of part of a larger learning journey.
Use the Review-Preview-Motivate framework to provide that context at the course, module, and content level. This approach helps students connect ideas, stay oriented, and remain engaged.
Connect to prior learning (review)
Help students link new content to what they already know. This builds a stronger foundation and makes it easier for them to process new information.
As an expert, it may feel obvious how concepts connect, but students often need those connections made explicit.
- Reference key ideas from previous modules
- Ask a quick reflection question
- Clarify common misconceptions
- Restate key ideas before building on them
Even brief connections can improve understanding and retention (Ambrose et al., 2010).
Example
“In the last module, you explored adolescent development. Now, you will examine how these patterns differ in abnormal development.”
Set expectations (preview)
Give students a clear roadmap before they begin. This helps them organize new information and reduces cognitive overload.
Breaking content into smaller, focused sections makes it easier for students to follow and retain what they learn. Use your preview to show how those pieces fit together.
- Outline key topics or concepts
- Explain how materials connect
- Highlight what to focus on
- Guide students on how to approach complex content
Providing structure ahead of time improves comprehension and recall (Ambrose et al., 2010).
Example
“In this module, you will compare three theories of development. Focus on how each explains language acquisition, as you will apply these ideas in your assignment.”
Explain why it matters (motivate)
Show students the value of what they are learning. When students understand relevance, they are more likely to stay engaged and persist through challenges.
Motivation is especially important when content feels complex or disconnected. Use this step to reinforce purpose and connect learning to real-world use.
- Connect content to real-world applications
- Link to course goals or assessments
- Use a question, scenario, or example to spark interest
Example
“These concepts are used by public health professionals to track disease spread. You will use the same methods in your final project.”
Use review, preview, and motivate to make connections visible, reduce confusion, and help students stay engaged. When you clearly connect ideas, organize content, and explain relevance, you support stronger understanding and more meaningful learning.
References
- Norman, M. K., Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., DiPietro, M., & Lovett, M. C. (2010). How learning works: Seven research-based principles for smart teaching. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
- Meyer, K. (2016). How chunking helps content processing. Retrieved from https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jlv76ylag4qht8ebaqj4b/How-Chunking-Helps-Content-Processing.pdf?rlkey=d8x0zdoh7vwervpx4ikh9mur8&e=1&st=0bubuuyi&dl=0
