I have found that creating a situation where students have to look at an idea from a perspective most would rarely consider, helps them to find a motive in learning. Also, if this has to be presented before the group it incourages further participation because of peer opinions. My example is in a class 50-50 black to white and male to female, studying the civil war. For a presentation each student had to pick a historic figure from the war of a different race and the opposite sex to present in character before the class (this did not require cross dressing). It was amazing how students who had previously Roared about one topic or another had to see politics through a new set of eyes, and in doing so not only taught themselves but eachother.