Potter’s Engagement Taxonomy™ guides you through seven progressive levels of learner engagement, from building psychological safety to ensuring long-term skill transfer. Each level includes a focused cognitive level, proven facilitation strategies, desired learning outcomes, and suggested apps and tech. Cognitive levels are ordered from simple to complex, and from concrete to abstract.
Grounded in learning science and cognitive load theory, the taxonomy is built for facilitators, instructional designers, and content developers. This taxonomy helps you intentionally design sessions that do more than deliver information — they build trust, activate participation, and drive on-the-job results.
Whether you're designing workshops, onboarding sessions, or leadership programs, this taxonomy gives you a clear path to structure interactive experiences that stick, scale, and spark action.
When learners feel seen, heard, and engaged — everything changes. That’s the power of intentional design. Whether you're reimagining a single session or building a full program, I'm here to help you. Let’s chat about what’s possible.