The issue I have with motivation is that I teach science courses at a design school. Most students are here because they have no interest in science. I find that showing interesting or crazy videos or pictures helps increase interest and thus motivation. any similar experiences?

I think post term/semester refocusing is a good idea. Throw out what did not work or students didn't like and try something else. It is always good to have your course evolve over time. Any thoughts?

I think rapport with students is the most important factor when teaching. Even if the content isn't great or if the course is poorly organized, students can get a lot out of a class that has an instructor that demonstrates this ability.

I often have students that know a lot more about a particular topic than I do due to their career experiences. In these cases, the student can be a great resource during a class discussion for the other students as well as myself.

I have learned that a good method to keep students engaged is to explore tangents in the subject matter that come up during class. I teach Anthropology and Environmental Science though most of my background is in Biology. So when an interesting question comes up, it is sometimes fun exploring it even if it does not directly relate to content. It sparks interest in the class and gives students something to remember.