When thinking of traditional research papers this is what I picture students feeling:
![](http://blogs.longwood.edu/hannah479/files/2018/08/2gtcfn-300x215.jpg)
A meme showcasing how students are bored of research papers
There are many different options for us teachers to explore when thinking about assigning a new project for our students. You can always go with the traditional route and have them write a standard, 5 paragraph essay on your topic, but put yourself in their shoes for a moment. Think about how many papers just like this they’ve already written. Will they actually learn anything from this? Perhaps more importantly, will they enjoy doing this?
![](http://blogs.longwood.edu/hannah479/files/2018/08/Students-Bored.jpg)
Group of bored teenagers sitting in a classroom
On the flip side, you could test your students’ creativity by assigning something a little more interactive, such as a social media campaign! Have them choose a site of their choice, such as Twitter or Facebook, and let them run wild. You’ll probably notice a change in engagement, and have some more fun yourself! Have students create a hashtag that people can use to express their concern about the issue the student has posed and let the creative energy flow!
![](http://blogs.longwood.edu/hannah479/files/2018/08/Interested-Students-300x200.jpg)
Jon Stickland teaches his sustainable systems analysis class in the R.E.A.L classroom in McDonel Hall on Friday March 29, 2013.
The social media campaign could look something like this:
![](http://blogs.longwood.edu/hannah479/files/2018/08/social-media-campaign-300x142.png)
A social media campaign example.
So let’s encourage creativity and involvement in class!