Today’s students are challenging to teach. They can also be inspiring, if you know what makes them tick.
A Matter of Perspective
By Beth McMurtrie December 19, 2024
Gen Z is a puzzle to many professors. Over the last year, The Chronicle has published a series of stories on attitudes and behaviors among young people that make teaching them a challenge. For a host of reasons they may seem indifferent to learning yet desperate to find meaning and purpose. They don’t do much reading outside of class and may freeze in the face of difficulty. Many are hyper-focused on grades and are blasé about cheating.
Yet professors continue to say students are some of their greatest sources of hope and job satisfaction. Many find members of this generation inspiring in their emotional acuity, authenticity, creativity, and willingness to question authority. Those professors understand their colleagues’ frustration. At a time when resources are shrinking and faculty members are taking on more responsibilities, finding ways to bring out the best in their students can feel like a herculean task. But some have managed. How?
Read full article here in the Chronicle of Higher Education