Brown Bag | Rethinking Engagement for Gen Z Using Innovative Pedagogies
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Workshop
“Class is boring.” “All I do is read and take a quiz.” These student comments echo across disciplines and modalities, reflecting a growing disconnect between traditional instructional approaches and the expectations of Gen Z learners. As educators and instructional designers, we are increasingly challenged to rethink what engagement actually means and how to design for it intentionally rather than reactively.
This session draws on a recent practitioner-informed literature review examining Gen Z undergraduate learners, faculty perceptions of engagement, and the role of innovative pedagogies in shaping meaningful participation in higher education. While Gen Z students are often described as digitally fluent and engagement-driven, the research and our experience reveals a more complex reality: students may request “engaging” experiences yet resist pedagogies that require active participation, collaboration, or accountability. At the same time, faculty frequently express uncertainty about how to adapt their teaching without sacrificing rigor or overhauling their courses entirely. In this session, Participants will examine how pedagogical approaches such as active learning, flipped classrooms, gamification, social media integration, and generative AI can support Gen Z engagement when aligned with clear learning goals and thoughtfully scaffolded implementation.
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Dr. Heidi Watson-Held is an Instructional Designer in the eLearning Design Innovation Group in the Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University. Heidi has worked for the Pennsylvania State University for 26 years in program design, development, and delivery in a variety of capacities. She completed a D.Ed. in Administration and Leadership – Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2012. She received her M.Ed. in Adult Education from Pennsylvania State University in 2004. Heidi has been teaching adjunct since 2016 at Purdue University and the University of New England since 2026. Heidi enjoys teaching and learning with AI, designing courses, creating video shorts, and working on assessments. When she is not working or teaching, she is involved in gardening, painting, taking care of the family, or writing stories.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-watson-held-69803114
Emilee Spokus is an Instructional Technology Specialist in the Office of Digital Pedagogies and Initiatives in the College of the Liberal Arts at The Pennsylvania State University. Emilee has worked for The Pennsylvania State University since 2008, with the last decade focused on digital pedagogy and faculty support in instructional technology, media production, and course design. She earned her B.A. (with honors) in Digital Media from Juniata College in 2007and her M.S. in Learning, Design, and Technology from Pennsylvania State University in 2023. Emilee also co-developed and teaches LA 83 – Liberal Arts First-Year Seminar. Emilee enjoys learning how to integrating AI into teaching and learning, designing courses, creating media and video content, and advancing accessibility in digital spaces. When she is not working, she enjoys hiking, gardening, learning to be a handyman, and competing with her golden retriever in obedience, rally, tracking, and scent work. She also volunteers as a trainer with Mt. Nittany Dog Training Club.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilee-spokus-55443314/
This is an instructor focused workshop and only
faculty/staff or GTAs may enroll.