How Can Handouts Become Your Secret Weapon for Student Engagement?

Many instructors overlook or even skip handouts, assuming they add little value beyond summarizing content. But without intentional design, students may disengage, feel unclear about expectations, or struggle to stay actively involved in class. Passive classrooms, inconsistent participation, and cognitive overload are often the result of teaching tools that don’t fully support learning or invite students into the process.

In this 20-Minute Mentor, Jeremy Rentz demonstrates how a simple, well-crafted, one-page handout can transform engagement and learning. Rooted in transparency, active learning, and dual coding, his approach shows how handouts can serve as daily contracts for participation, roadmaps for learning, and supportive spaces for note-making and practice. You’ll gain practical strategies to reduce overload, foster curiosity, and guide structured discussions—helping you create handouts that do more than deliver information. With easy-to-implement ideas, this session equips you to engage every student and make your teaching tools work harder for you, starting with your very next class.

After viewing this Magna 20-Minute Mentor, participants will be able to: 

• Recognize how thoughtfully designed handouts can foster active student participation and engagement
• Communicate daily learning objectives, expectations, and homework tasks with clarity through transparent handout design
• Integrate retrieval prompts, discussion questions, or practice problems into handouts to stimulate critical thinking
• Incorporate visuals strategically to support diverse learners and strengthen memory through dual coding
• Evaluate current use of handouts and identify immediate opportunities for improvement and implementation

TOPICS COVERED 

• Applying transparency strategies to clearly communicate learning objectives and expectations
• Engaging all students in active participation during class sessions
• Structuring handouts to support note-making and retrieval practice
• Incorporating visuals and dual coding to enhance comprehension and memory
• Designing handouts that support diverse learners and promote equity

AUDIENCE

This program will benefit:

• Professors
• Adjunct Faculty
• Instructors
• Faculty Developers
• Instructional Designers
• Academic Coaches
• Directors of Faculty Development
• Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Coordinators

Product Code: PM25QA