32 Bridge-In
Responsibility for learning rests primarily with the learners. At the same time, the instructor has a responsibility to create conditions that motivate learners. The bridge-in is meant to gain attention and establish relevance for the lesson. Sometimes known as the “motivational statement” or “hook,” the bridge-in helps the learners prepare for what is about to happen.
An effective bridge-in enhances the motivation to learn by connecting learners to the content of the lesson in an interesting and/or relevant way. This segment of the lesson is usually quite short. However, in lessons where the motivation may be less than optimal, the bridge-in is particularly important. Unenthusiastic learners may be “hooked” if the bridge-in provides answers to questions like:
“What’s in it for me?” “Why does this matter?” “Why should I learn this?”
Strategies that build motivation early in a lesson:
- Provide reasons for learning this topic, explaining why the topic is important and how it may be useful in other situations, or demonstrating that it is a transferable skill.
- Tell a short and engaging story in connection with the topic.
- Show a brief animation or comic.
- Refer to something in the learners’ own experiences*.
- Pose a provocative question linked to a current event or the learners’ personal lives.
- Show a live stream of a related event to set the scene.
- Offer a startling statistic or unusual fact that prompts curiosity.
- Link the topic to material already discussed.
* NOTE: Personal stories, anecdotes, and examples can be very effective. In a multi-cultural or diverse setting, however, it is important to consider learners’ life experiences and backgrounds. If a learner is not aware of current trends in popular culture or wasn’t alive when rotary telephones were used, for example, a given story that is meant to bridge might be mystifying or, if everyone else laughs at the joke, could even make the learner feel excluded.