When you listen to a podcast or read an article, you take in the information and process it—but when something in that content connects to you personally, it sticks. You digest it more deeply and remember it with greater clarity. The same holds true in education: students retain information better when it feels relevant and engaging, and when they feel actively involved in their learning. Now imagine embedding that learning with future-readiness skills.

In this episode of Change Starts Here: Research Conversations, Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Funding at FranklinCovey Education, and Kim Yaris, M.Ed., Associate Director of Research, discuss how educators can use existing academic standards to design future-focused lesson plans. By creating lessons that build meaningful connections and encourage students to personalize their learning, educators can boost knowledge retention and engagement. With small, intentional adjustments, these lesson plans can also foster critical skills like cooperation, problem-solving, and adaptability—equipping students to step into the world prepared for anything.

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Click here to check out 3 Future-Focused Lesson Plans: NEED URL

Starring: Kim Yaris, M.Ed, Associate Director of Research at FranklinCovey Education

Dr. Jennifer Chevalier, Director of Funding at FranklinCovey Education

Time stamps:

(00:00 - 00:51) Introduction

(00:52 - 04:06) The End in Mind

(04:07 - 06:48) Melding Competencies

(06:49 - 08:35) Example in Literature

(08:36 - 12:44) Cross Content Examples

(12:45 - 15:51) The Heart of It All

(15:52 - 20:07) Shifting Standards for Students

(20:08 - 20:38) Closing