In his nine events of instruction, Gagné emphasises the importance of starting with an attention-grabbing introduction. Think about how you might create a compelling introduction that will be perceived as useful by the participants – perhaps it’s a personal story, a news story, or a question that surprises them or shocks them.  The potential benefits of engaging should be explicit. Try to choose an activity which readily promotes interaction, from which a SoB can grow.  So aim at an emotional connection that encourages them to not only think about the subject but also to share their thoughts with their peers. Think about how you will introduce, prompt, if necessary guide and support the ensuing conversation. Anticipate any complications for learners with the technology used for both delivery of the material and the following discussion.

Example: Vicky asks students to watch a short video of a trainee doctor experiencing the death of a patient, and suggests reflecting on how the trainee doctor felt. The video is short but pertinent to the module and to the students’ own experience. In this example the tutor is tapping into both the student’s SoB to their own profession and their SoB to the module. The task is manageable, not too time consuming, and also introduces students to the discussion board. The video was on Youtube for easy access to her student population; a clear question is asked via the vle Blog tool as Vicky feels this gives a more conversational feel than the vle Discussion board. The students rated this activity highly.