Teaching the Next Generation: Tips for Educators
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Posted By: Dixie Somers on February 28, 2018 You always knew you wanted to be an educator, but these days, any educating you do seems to happen only in fits and starts, and with much frustration and exhaustion on your part. Earning a masters in adult education is one thing, but what about teaching the younger generation? By understanding what drives this next generation, you can better prepare yourself to teach them in ways that will make your job easier and more fulfilling. They Know TechnologyTechnology is the basic language that nearly all the next generation speaks fluently. To deny that fact is to deny a major part of their identity. This means that a great way to engage your students is to utilize technology in new and creative ways to keep their attention and put the material in a format they are more likely to digest. This usage must extend beyond the basic projector presentation and also involve their individual electronic devices, while not focusing on technology so much that it becomes a distraction. If you’re not comfortable using technology, just admit it. Many students will be happy to teach you all you need to know. They Crave AuthenticityEvery student, from the youngest elementary-aged student, to someone pursuing an advanced degree, is craving something similar from their teacher: authenticity. There’s enough that’s confusing and unrealistic in their world, so they need basic elements in their lives, like their education, to be simple and authentic. This doesn’t mean you have to tell them your whole life story, but it does mean you can share a few details about your family and personal life that will begin to create connections that will tear down barriers you may have previously encountered. This also means not trying to be someone you aren’t, since students will pick up on this and immediately tune you out along with all the other “fake news” they are exposed to on a daily basis. They’re EnthusiasticMillennials, perhaps more than any generation before them, are enthusiastic about their lives. To some extent this is a result of the “participation trophy” generation that declared everyone a winner. At the same time, much of this enthusiasm is simply young minds believing they can do anything, and wanting desperately a leader who can help equip them to do it. While it’s wise to try and keep their expectations somewhat in line with reality, don’t shoot down every big idea they have simply because it might seem impossible. Embrace big ideas and big dreams with them, and you’ll gain their heart, minds, and imaginations. They Need StabilitySimilar to the next generation’s need for authenticity is a desperate need in their lives for stability. With so much in the world around them seeming to shift on a regular basis, anything that can truly be depended upon will be highly-regarded in their minds and actions. Always show up on time for class and be absent as little as possible. Maintain a stable teaching style and tempo, only changing it up as needed to engage students with other learning styles. In addition, just be there to answer their questions quickly and completely, so they can fill in the gaps of knowledge in their head that can lead to anxiety. Stick with ItChanges you make might not seem to have much effect at first, but remember that the next generation constantly is on the lookout for fraud, so it may take them a while to warm up to any differences they notice. If you stay consistent, though, and show that these changes come as a result of your care for them, your students will respond positively and surprise you with how much they’re capable of accomplishing. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Dixie Somers
Freelance Writer, Self Employed Other College... class of 2004 Member Since November 2016 |
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