By Furqan Asif
Compared to 15 years ago, teaching at a university has changed. But it is not the universities that have changed—it is the students. Those entering university now, the so-called Generation Z, are different from students that came before. They are the first generation that grew up having the internet their whole life. Companies and platforms such as Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia seem as ubiquitous to them as electricity and running water. Within this context, the role—along with the view by Gen Z—of the educator or professor has shifted. After all, if a student can learn about a topic by watching a YouTube video or going on Wikipedia, what does this mean for instructors at universities? What is the incentive for students to be engaged and how does this influence how we teach? These are the questions I have grappled with as an instructor at a Canadian university.
Below are two strategies I have used to support and encourage my student’s learning and engagement.
Use of Online Tools to Encourage Student Engagement
Along with the rise of platforms that have given us easy access to knowledge, there have been innovative developments in the teaching and technology world as well. One such platform that I have used with great success is Echo360, which is a platform that allows video recording/learning, presentation syncing (i.e. the slides are on the student’s laptop screen in realtime), class chatrooms, and advanced analytics. My students have especially appreciated being able to chat with other students on class topics and the ability to ask me questions discreetly.
Using Youtube as a Learning Tool
The platform boasts countless videos, documentaries and short clips that sometimes do an effective job at conveying an idea or topic. Adding these to the lecture provide students with a way to engage visually with the content. For example, being able to see what a specific country looks like versus just reading about it.
As instructors, it may seem daunting to feel like you’re competing with students who have access to information at their fingertips, tools like those above present opportunities and a way to engage the new generation of students in a way that they are more accustomed to. And if you are a Gen Z reading this, I would encourage you to send this article to your professor so that you can benefit from a more engaging teaching and learning experience!
Furqan Asif is a PhD candidate in International Development at the University of Ottawa and a part-time professor at the School of International Development & Global Studies. Outside of this, he has taught internationally, both in Cambodia and South Korea focusing on social science research methods and environment and society courses, respectively.
Comentarios