Adapting Teaching for the Next Generation of Students

What is the preferred learning style for Generation Z students? How do we reach this new generation of students who may not learn as well with established strategies? As faculty, it is important to adapt to the changing demographics of the student population. As the average age of the student population gets younger, it’s on us to provide learning environments and materials that will give them the best opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge we wish to teach them. 

A recent study shows that 57% of people 14-23 (Generation Z) preferred video as a means to help grasp concepts. Video is an ever-increasing presence in the lives of our students. According to a study by Nielsen Media Research, YouTube reaches more Americans 18-34 years old than any single TV network, and a search for “How-to” on YouTube yields 1.57 billion results. The power of online video as a tool for both learning and entertainment is increasing.

So how do we use this to our advantage in the online and blended classroom? eCampus is bringing Jill Schiefelbein, the Dynamic Communicator, to the University of Nebraska at Kearney April 8-10 to help answer this question and more. Schiefelbein will be working with faculty in small groups and one-on-one sessions to help increase their video production skills and identify areas for increasing the impact of presentation. Learn how to move past simple “talking head” videos and into high-quality produced videos, on-site learning and live streaming videos, and demonstration videos that help students understand concepts at a deeper level. 

The upcoming visit will be Schiefelbein’s fourth time on campus to work with online and blended faculty. Her sessions will be a combination of presentations, demonstrations and hands-on activities. Attendees will walk away with ideas for adding value to courses, engaging students from Generation X through Z without reinventing the wheel, on-site video techniques to capture footage and best practices for using video.

Schiefelbein is an award-winning author, entrepreneur and former faculty member who worked at Arizona State University for 11 years. While at ASU, she taught business communication, developed hundreds of online courses and worked with and trained faculty from over 30 academic disciplines. Her work in increasing the effectiveness of communication via video has proven results and is used in both educational and commercial settings. 

Are you teaching your students using their preferred learning style? Do you feel ready to engage your students using video? If you want answers to these questions and more, mark your calendar for April 8-10. If you have questions about the event or other online teaching resources for UNK faculty, feel free to contact your UNK Online Learning Designer.