<p>Motivating students is essential to retaining students.&nbsp; I have students who sometimes bring a wealth of life experience to the class and express that the assignments are meaningless to them.&nbsp; I encourage to take classes and assignments they are already know as something to pad their tool boxes and their GPAs.&nbsp; There is going to come a time when they just might learn something if they open their minds to it.&nbsp; I let them know that I am always learning each time I teach a course.&nbsp; I learn from the material as well as from their experiences.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>