Thank you for your post. I too am looking for ideas to generate more interest in my students.
I am a high school instructor at a Technical Center in PA, my three year program prepares students for CompTIA certification. ITF+ is taking first year and 95% of my students pass. Their junior and senior year I teach CompTIA A+ curriculum Core 1 and Core 2. I too am having trouble getting my students to take the A+ exams. Students who taking iA+ are passing Core1, however during the 3 year journey their interest change or they are headed to 4 year college and it will be expired before they leave college. Several students are heading to work directly out of high school and remain interested but I too am looking for ideas for the remaining students.
Finally, I found someone who teaches how I do! I have a four-year program and the first is one of those fun basics of all things IT (Google workplace projects, 3D printing, keyboard practice, the 14 basic parts of a PC, looking inside a pc, etc.). I then have my second years to the ITF+, and I eventually will have my third and fourth class as a double. That will allow me to teach core one and core two the same year to seniors.
My biggest issue is that a majority of the kids who are in my classes either can't handle it or don't want to be there. Or are so socially awkward they show no interest in the class. They don't take me up on offers to send equipment home, they don't work through their lunches, and they don't stay after when I offer.
