Effort, Practice, and Experience Produce Understanding: The Art of Making Learning Fun

Most professors believe motivation is entirely the student's job—that's a myth holding students back. Dr. Lesley Vandermark flips that idea on its head, revealing how a shift in mindset transforms classrooms and student lives.Imagine a professor who makes learning fun, who emphasizes why students need each skill, and who believes that challenging courses actually boost success. That’s Dr. Vandermark. She shares bold strategies to turn exams from dreaded to engaging, ideas that make even the toughest content memorable, and nuanced systems to help students prioritize and manage their time like pros.You’ll discover: how to design courses that students love by connecting content to real-world impact, practical tools for building internal motivation, and the overlooked power of decision before motivation kicks in. Dr. Vandermark’s story of a rural upbringing ignited her passion for accessible, impactful education—creating lifelong learners and clinicians who thrive.This episode is for educators, students, and anyone tired of tired teaching. Want to see that learning and teaching can be bold, fun, and deeply effective? Hit play. Your approach to education will never be the same.