Actualizing Your Teaching: Reaching Today’s Learners

For many of us who have dedicated years to the rewarding work of teaching, the landscape of higher education has shifted dramatically. The students who fill our classrooms today bring with them a wealth of diverse experiences, expectations, and learning styles, shaped by a world vastly different from the one in which we may have begun our careers. To truly connect with and empower these learners, a process of “actualizing” our teaching by consciously adapting and refining our approaches becomes not just beneficial, but essential.

Think of it not as abandoning the wisdom of experience, but as thoughtfully re-examining and invigorating our pedagogical practices. Just as we encourage our students to be lifelong learners, we too must embrace a spirit of continuous growth and adaptation in our roles as educators.

One key aspect of actualizing our teaching involves increased course transparency and organization. Today’s students thrive in environments where expectations are clear, learning pathways are well-defined, and resources are easily accessible. Many of our students came from highly prescribed curriculum where the learning goals, and what had to be completed in order to get to the next level, was clear. Consider revisiting your syllabus: is it a living document that clearly articulates learning outcomes, assessment criteria, and the rationale behind course activities? Are your learning management system (i.e. Moodle) pages intuitive and consistently structured? Can students easily see what assignments will be evaluated, the grades they have received, and, where relevant, the feedback that explains their grade? Small adjustments in these areas can significantly reduce student anxiety and foster a greater sense of agency in their learning.

When we lean on popular culture references, it’s worth reflecting on their true impact. While they can sometimes spark connection, their relevance can be incredibly fleeting and even exclusionary for students with different backgrounds and experiences. What we consider “popular culture” might not resonate with our students at all, particularly given the overwhelming volume of new content they encounter daily across every platform imaginable. Staying truly current with what our students are exposed to is a monumental task. Instead, consider weaving in more enduring and universally understood examples, or better yet, empower students by inviting them to share their own relevant connections. This approach not only broadens accessibility but also deeply enriches the discussion with their unique perspectives.

The integration of visual aids and classroom technology offers powerful avenues for engaging today’s visually-oriented learners. This doesn’t necessitate a complete overhaul of your teaching style. Simple additions like well-designed slides, interactive simulations, or carefully curated videos can enhance understanding and cater to diverse learning preferences. Explore the technologies available at your institution and consider how they might complement your existing pedagogical strengths.

Finally, the strategic use of low-stakes assessment opportunities can profoundly impact student learning and reduce grade-related anxiety. Think beyond high-stakes exams and papers. Incorporating activities like brief quizzes, short writing assignments, peer review, or even ungraded polls can provide valuable feedback for both students and instructors, fostering a culture of learning from mistakes and continuous improvement. These lower-pressure points of assessment allow students to engage with the material more freely and see assessment as a tool for growth, rather than a source of stress. Consider creating new types of assignments and activities that are similar to what they do in their activities or professions outside of classes, such as creating a brief training video or critiquing a video they see on tik tok or other social media outlet.

Actualizing your teaching is not about chasing trends, but about thoughtfully aligning your expertise with the needs of today’s learners. It’s an ongoing journey of reflection, experimentation, and a commitment to creating inclusive and impactful learning experiences. By embracing these principles, we can ensure that our years of experience continue to be a powerful force in shaping the next generation of thinkers and leaders.