Application of the principles typically increases the student's appreciation for the subject. A good biology instructor stresses the process of doing science as well as learning biological concepts. Students need to understand and experience the scientific method. Experience teaches best. I do not lecture about something if the class can do it.
Students learn best by doing and being actively engaged in their own education.
I also link course concepts with the students' lives. By demonstrating how course material relates to their lives and futures, I am able to maintain student interest and motivation. I frame problems, projects, and exams as real applications of the course material. This further emphasizes the value of the course and enhances student's satisfaction. I believe one of the nearly universal qualities of good teaching is thorough preparation.