An embodiment includes a method of learner engagement that includes crowdsourcing a skill proposal. The skill proposal is crowdsourced and includes a skill item that describes an exercise related to an educational concept. The method may include crowdsourcing a real-world problem proposal. The real-world problem proposal may include a real-world problem item that includes one or more technical issues that occur in at least one career. The method may include determining whether the skill item is relevant to the real-world problem item based on application of the educational concept of the skill item to technical issues of the real-world problem item. In response to a determination that the skill item is relevant to the real-world problem item, the method may include pairing the skill item with the real-world problem item.