In 2025, the Faculty Senate at the University of Washington approved the adoption of a set of core elements of effective teaching into Section 24-32 of the UW Faculty Code. One these elements of effective teaching is “relevant:”
Relevant: Effective teaching helps learners understand why what they are learning matters and prepares them for future learning and life after the UW.
When faculty effectively demonstrate relevance as a core element of their teaching, students become more motivated and invested, leading to deeper comprehension and better retention of knowledge. This understanding also fosters a crucial sense of purpose, as students connect their learning to personal values and a broader community, cultivating a strong sense of belonging.
Strategies for highlighting relevance
Relevant teaching helps students understand why the learning experience matters, both for their current academic journey and for their future lives and careers.
Take time to talk with students about how smaller assignments (e.g., homework) prepare them for larger, more complex assignments or tasks.
Help students see how the work they do in your course develops skills they can use in other contexts. For example, when students complete a group project, they’re not only learning course content, they’re also practicing collaboration, time management, and problem-solving. Make these connections clear. You might share with students: “By completing this project, you’ll strengthen your ability to analyze real-world cases and work effectively with a team, skills that employers value in many fields.” Encouraging students to reflect on these skills in assignments or discussions helps them describe their experiences confidently in future academic or professional settings.
Collaborative projects help students develop skills that are valuable in both professional and civic contexts.
Prompt students to analyze the ethical and societal dimension and impacts embedded within the context of a topic or issue. This deepens their understanding of the discipline and also cultivates their ability to critically evaluate and navigate the ethical and societal and moral dimensions of their future professional and civic lives. Such engagement prepares students to be responsible and ethically conscious contributors to society.
Incorporate a panel or class discussion to connect students with additional resources, guide their career path, and develop their career readiness for graduate school or the workforce.
UW defines community engagement as “working together with different groups of people, like students, teachers, staff, alumni, extended communities, Tribal Nations, and Indigenous communities. We team up to share knowledge, resources, and skills with each other to solve important social issues and plan for a better future for everyone and our planet.” Participating in CEL helps students to work in partnership with the community to engage directly with the content they are learning. Encouraging participation in CEL also provides students with valuable work experience and community and partnership connections. To learn more on your campus visit the community engagement directory.