The first is "dedicated learners". They are easy to teach. Just guide them to what they need to know. They do well in almost any educational environment whether it is lecture, online teaching, or group instruction. Just give them good content and provide them with opportunities to apply the concepts in problems, discussions, and exercises. Typically, they already know a lot because by nature, they are learners. Sometimes, I have to even tell them to back off a bit.
The next segment is "skeptical learners." These people want to learn, but they need to be convinced. They have been asked to learn a lot hogwash over the years and are choosier in how they spend their time. They are often older, mature students who have stronger opinions of what is important and not. Skeptical learners require the instructor to build a persuasive argument for the value of the material and the need to learn. Once that is done, they are often even better learners than dedicated learners because they fit the ideas into their daily lives.
The last, and most difficult segment is "unmotivated learners." For them, learning is not important, so coercive educational strategies are needed. Rewards and punishments, such as assigning attendance grades, are needed. Even then, they often do the minimum amount possible unless you can spark their interest enough to turn them into skeptical learners.
My target market is the skeptical learners. Good teaching can influence their learning. My secondary market is the motivated learners who will succeed if I do a good enough job with the skeptical learners. Unmotivated learners are NOT my target students. Of course, I will encourage them to engage, to learn. But time is better spent on the other two student groups.
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