For today's educators, the challenge of engaging Gen Z students is significant. This group of learners has a different set of expectations for their educational experience, and they often struggle to connect with material if they don't see its relevance to their lives. Below are some ways I've adjusted my lectures to better meet my students' needs.

Resources: Meeting Them Where They Are

Today, information is available instantly at our fingertips. For Gen Z, this has always been their way of life. With information so readily accessible, our role as educators is no longer simply to be the source of disseminating information. Instead, we are guides, explainers, and connectors who help students make sense of what's available to them.

  • Curate Resources: With so many excellent resources available—from textbook animations and YouTube videos to documentaries and podcasts—provide a curated list of online resources. These resources offer different (and often more visual) ways to explain complex topics or demonstrate steps that are hard to show in a 2D textbook image. Always ensure that the content aligns with what they are learning.
  • Embrace Multimodal Learning: A single topic can be taught through a variety of mediums. For instance, in my biology class, a complex cellular process like osmosis is first explained using a 2D image, then reviewed with GIFs and short videos, followed by an active learning activity where students draw the movement of water. Finally, I provide a link to a virtual lab. This approach keeps things fresh and caters to different learning styles.
  • Make it Mobile: Ensure all course materials and communication are easily accessible on mobile devices. Making learning portable allows students to engage with content at any time. 

Relevancy: Bridging the Gap Between Classroom and Life

Gen Z students are driven by the need to understand the “why”. They want to know how the knowledge they're acquiring will be useful in their careers and personal lives. To motivate them, we must make a clear connection between course material and real-world application.

  • Connect Concepts to Current Events: Use current events, relevancy modules, or even popular culture to introduce or illustrate academic concepts. For example, while discussing the water cycle, I use a relevancy module on Flint's water crisis and connect it to a similar issue in Jackson, Mississippi.
  • Integrate Real-World Problem-Solving: Design assignments and projects that require students to apply their knowledge to solve real problems. For example, case studies can challenge students to act as consultants or scientists to address a specific issue. In my biology course, a guided lecture activity (found in the instructor’s resources) has students determine which organelle is not functioning in cells and how that affects the human body. This project-based learning hones critical, marketable skills such as problem solving in a medical situation.
  • Show the Career Path: Make it clear how the skills they are building—critical thinking, collaboration, and data analysis—are directly transferable to their future careers. Include these skills in your syllabus and highlight them in various assignments. Speak on researchers (potentially invite as guest speakers) from relevant industries to reinforce the practical value of the course content.

Activities: Keeping Attention in the Digital Age

The traditional, uninterrupted lecture is a tough sell for a generation accustomed to constant stimulation and rapid information exchange. I've noted that long lectures without visual aids or breaks can lead to burnout quickly. Scattering a variety of interactive activities throughout a lecture is crucial for maintaining attention and promoting active learning.

  • The Power of the Micro-Break: Break up long lectures into shorter, focused segments. In between these segments, insert a quick, low-stakes activity. This could be a one-minute think-pair-share, a quick poll using Polling in McGraw Hill Connect®, or a two-minute muddiest point reflection where students write down what's still confusing them.
  • Incorporate Collaboration: Gen Z values social interaction and peer learning. Integrate small group activities like debates (chats in online classes) or collaborative problem-solvingexercises/documents.These activities foster a sense of community and allow students to learn from each other's perspectives.

By weaving together accessible resources, clear relevancy, and engaging activities, we can create a learning environment that not only captures but sustains the motivation of Gen Z learners.