We don’t have to tell you who your students are. You’ve met them. The uber-connected, the creative, the generation that wants to change the world, and those children who have grown up during the evolution of data-mining and terrorism who are ok with their life being posted and followed. Only recently has the trend toward non-mining social sites such as “SnapChat,” “Secret,” or “Whisper” begun growing in popularity.

Research shows that our students are vastly different than we were while attending school. So, why do we continue to teach via the same old “let me tell you about” mode of operation? This generation wants to co-create and have “hands-on, engaged learning endeavors,” says Howard Gardner. They thrive on opportunity and want to participate in the learning journey. This is how curriculum content sticks like Velcro.

As an inquiry-based learning author, I often speak of “repackaging” delivery into a “learning adventure.” This depicts how the research is telling us to deliver content to successfully engage the Gen Z or Next Gen learner. So, in the spirit of the Gen Z, I’ve wrapped up this month’s message into a visual infographic. Even the New York Times has an “infographic” department (check out @NYTGraphics on Twitter). They consider the news and contemplate on what can be depicted in visual formats. They realize that everyone likes a visual summary and will read when they want to dig deeper on a topic. The visual message has equal footing to the text, if not more (http://www.niemanlab.org/2016/03/from-service-desk-to-standalone-news-desk-how-the-new-york-times-graphics-department-has-transitioned-to-the-mobile-age/).

Please don’t miss the main message however: as society and students have changed, we too must change. As a self-assessment, consider your lessons and contemplate “repackaging” a delivery that is old, stale, or just a lecture. Here are a few “first steps” of reformation to contemplate, if you are new to 21^st Century instruction:

• Try substituting a technology-created knowledge product for something formerly expected to result in a three-paragraph essay.
• Try asking students to work in collaborative groups to create, brainstorm, or solve a problem (either face-to-face or virtually).
• Start your lesson with an Essential Question that must be investigated to be answered. Ask yourself, what can I ask to compel them to research? 
• Connect your content to the Gen Z’s world. Or, try a global perspective, rather than a national perspective.
• Embed a virtual discussion via any of the many tools mentioned by this month’s authors and columnists.

Please consider “connecting” either via technology or with people. Listed here are a few generalities related to Next Generation instruction:

https://sites.google.com/a/uis.edu/colrs_cook/home/engaging-generation-z-students