4 Ways Engage Todays Learners

Amanda Cannon

1. Build an Inclusive Classroom

• Create a positive and respectful classroom space by being transparent, concise and upfront about your expectations and classroom rules.
• Get to know your students; their names, experiences, passions, values, and their interest.
• Let your students get to know you, your values, interested and your experiences.
• Provide ongoing, formal and information constructive feedback in a timely fashion.

2. Challenge your Students

• Get them thinking. Introduce problem based learning and/or case studies into the classroom. This type of learning encourages students to seek-out their own solutions to ill-structured problems and allows them to apply their current knowledge to real-world situations.
• Provide opportunities for students to be creative in how they approach assignments. Creating assignments options and different delivery methods encourages students to show you what they know if a way that works for them. 

3. Use Technology to Engage your Class

• Use technology to enhance the learning experience. Encourage digital devices into your classroom as a way to assess prior understand, check current understanding, gain immediate feedback, and as an opportunity to explain concepts further if needed
• Integrate technology to make course lectures an interactive experience. Using technology can increase levels of student achievement, interest and engagement. 
• Use available technology for social networking, current news and industry trends, and guest speakers. There are a organizations that posts talks online for free distribution which are excellent resources offering massive collections of engaging videos to gain insight to real-world problems.
• Incorporate gaming or simulations to encourage friendly competition amongst students and as a way to provide immediate feedback to improve the experience of the students throughout the class.
• Create a digital learning environment by using online technology. Provide a space for students to share ideas, ask questions, interact with one another and have access to relevant information outside classroom hours.

4. Encourage Active Learning

• Break up lesson material into manageable chunks with different activities to promote active learning. Groups work, interactive polls, reflections questions, case studies, video examples followed by synthesis questions can assist to keep students engaged and focused throughout your class. 
• Promote collaboration in the classroom. Allow students the opportunity to hear different perspectives and encourage them to articulate and support their own ideas. 
• Develop opportunities for experiential learning and learning through reflection.

References

Coates, J. (2007). Generational learning styles. River Falls, WI: LERN Books.

Frand, J. L. (2000). The information age mindset: Changes in students and implications for higher education. Educause Review, 35(5), 15-24.

Howe, N., & Strauss, W. (2000). Millennials rising: The next great generation. New York, NY: Vintage.

Meyers, S. A. (2009). Do your students care whether you care about them? College Teaching, 57(4), 205-210.

Prenskey, M. (2005). Listen to the natives. Educational Leadership, 63(4), 8-13.

The Millennial Generation: Understanding & Engaging Today's Learners. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://teaching.cornell.edu/resource/millennial-generation-understanding-engaging-todays-learners