Boosting Non-Cognitive Outcomes in the Classroom: 5 Practical Steps for Educators

[MarisaBluestone]

Non-cognitive outcomes like motivation, self-efficacy, and belonging can be just as important as grades for many students when it comes to their success. While they’re not as easy to measure as test scores, they help to shape how students connect with course material and how they push through challenges.

While it can be common to see declines in motivation across a semester or school year, there are practical, easy-to-implement strategies that educators can use to support their students’ success. Here are five key ways to improve non-cognitive outcomes in your classrooms:

1. Create a Welcoming Classroom Environment

A sense of belonging is essential for student engagement. From day one, work on building an inclusive space where students feel safe and valued. Invite students to share their backgrounds and experiences, and acknowledge the diversity they bring to the class. “Encourage them to share authentically about their experience to help normalize feelings of adversity or self-doubt, --everyone has struggles at some point,” noted Sarah Gray, Learning Research Manager at Macmillan Learning. These connections help build a community where everyone feels they belong. Something as simple as an icebreaker activity or using a collaborative tool like Spark (a space where students can engage with one another outside of traditional academic assignments), can help students express themselves and more easily get to know each other. One student described spark as "a fun way of connecting with classmates" and you can learn more about how it was co-designed with students here.

2. Give Personalized Feedback

Personalized feedback goes a long way in helping students feel seen and supported. Make it a point to address individual student strengths and areas for improvement, as well as highlight their progress. This doesn’t have to mean extensive time commitments. Quick comments like, “I noticed your improvement,” or “I can tell you are working hard on this,” or “I can see how you worked through this challenge,” can boost students' confidence and encourage them to believe in themselves. “This is especially impactful when you can tie this back to learning goals you set for the class, and give them some clear action steps on how to better meet those goals,” Gray said.

3. Set Clear, Achievable Goals

Be transparent about your learning goals for the class or for a particular assignment. This can be done by presenting learning objectives for a learning task, or providing a detailed rubric of assignment expectations. Also, give students a sense of direction by helping them set their own relevant, realistic goals for the class. Whether it’s a weekly task or a long-term project, breaking down assignments into smaller steps can make the work feel more manageable. Encourage a growth mindset by focusing on effort, not just the outcome. Tools like iClicker surveys can also help you keep track of how students are progressing and provide insight into where they might need more support.

4. Integrate Active Learning and Reflection

Get students involved in their own learning. Activities like peer discussions, group projects, or problem-solving exercises give them a sense of ownership and accomplishment. Afterward encourage reflection—ask them to think about what they learned, how they approached the task, and what they could improve. Reflection deepens self-awareness and promotes self-regulated learning strategies. “Reflection doesn’t always have to be formal--you can do this through in-the-moment check-ins during instruction or by asking them to rate their confidence in their answers using iClicker confidence ratings,” Gray added. 

5. Acknowledge Effort and Progress Regularly

Recognition keeps students motivated. Whether it’s a shout-out in class or a quick note on an assignment, small gestures go a long way in reinforcing effort and progress. Implement an end-of-week reflection where students note their own progress, helping them stay connected to their goals and the work they’ve put in. You can use the Goal Setting and Reflection (GRS) surveys within Achieve or another tool to help guide students self-analysis.

Supporting non-cognitive outcomes doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. “Think about what small things you are most comfortable doing to encourage students in your class,” added Gray. “How can you ‘bake it in’ to your class in an authentic, meaningful way without taking away from other learning activities?” 

With a few thoughtful practices, you can create a classroom environment that fosters motivation, engagement, and a sense of belonging. By focusing on these areas, you not only help students perform better academically, you’re also setting them up with life skills that will stick with them long after they’ve left the classroom. Read more about Macmillan Learning’s research on non-cognitive skills here.