Three Trends in Learning for 2024 (that might stand the test of time)
New year, new trends am I right?
From hearing that you have to be on TikTok to learning that 90’s fashion is back and if you are in your mid 30’s you are cringing.
Trends come and trends go and one place that we KNOW this is a constant is education.
Platforms, initiatives, behavior techniques, rapport building exercises, virtual learning and more change faster than the Super Bowl betting predictions.
As an educator with over a decade of experience in the standard high school classroom and another half decade in adult education via online business I would say I am more than skeptical about trends in general.
I want the tried and true because I know it works and can last the test of time.
Therefore, I scoured the internet for trends in learning for 2024 and with my intense critique rivaling that of Miranda Priestly in Devil Wears Prada I present to you 3 trends in learning that (might just) last!
Let’s get into it ⬇️
3 Trends in Student or Adult Learning That Might Actually Last
1️⃣"Snack media"
No, this isn't the Jetson's microwave that automatically makes food for you. And no, not even like the Disney Channel Movie "Smart House" PAT (Personal Applied Technology) system to make you a snack.
Nope, snack media is also called "nano-learning"
This is a learning trend that leans into Gen-Z's proclivity to keep everything short and sweet.
This allows learners to learn what they need quickly with short form videos, infographics, podcasts and even interactive activities.
Basically it helps teach one specific skill and cuts the fluff that you might see on a traditional course.
Why is this important to your students?
➡Your students ARE Gen Z (if not Generation Alpha) and they are growing up with instant gratification and quick results.
➡Your students actually want to learn, you might just be not “hitting” it right for this new generation. Try something new that gets to the end of the lesson faster!
Why is this important to you as an entrepreneur?
➡Your clients habits are changing with technological advancements (and it's not just Gen Z, millennials also prefer short form learning)
➡People want to acquire new skills faster (and will pay for that experience)
➡People want to learn. This includes your clients. Have you thought about how a client experiences your learning activities?
2️⃣Gamification
Teachers, are you rolling your eyes yet? You already know kids are loving Gimkit, Blooket, Quizlet Live and [insert the next trendy platform that we’re hit with 🤪].
I get it, if you have to learn another game you might just go crazy. But I hate to be the one to break it to you… gamification is probably here to stay.
And guess what? If you grew up with a gameboy, super nintendo or even playing the snake game on your cell phone (GUILTY!), you started this trend.
Gamification is a learning technique that weaves in game-like elements like prizes, rewards, points, badges, quests and more. For the main purpose of making learning more interactive and engaging.
A whopping 67% of students agreed that gamified learning is more motivating than a traditional course. And when I say students, I mean ALL students regardless of gender, age, status or profession.
And it’s not just motivating, it actually increases the overall performance of the learner. So my fellow educators, it’s time to game it up!
Why is this important to your students?
➡Your students want to be entertained. That doesn’t mean you need to be a stand up comedian. You can pass some of that “work” off to games like Blooket, Gimkit, Quizizz and Kahoot.
➡This is another way to give your students a quick break from lecture or group work.
➡ Going off script and reminding you that games in class don’t have to be on the computer. You can incorporate many in person games like review Jenga, Connect 4, Grudgeball and Stinky Feet. Check out this blog post from The Not So Wimpy Teacher for directions on these review games.
Why is this important to you as an entrepreneur?
➡Your clients like a challenge. Can you implement it into your course, membership or coaching? Maybe a 5 day reading challenge or 45 Grit like Jenn Boughey (check out her highlights).
➡Games introduce awards into your programs. What are some ways you can recognize your clients? Maybe a client spotlight in your newsletter or even a monthly snail mail prize for a client.
➡If you have an online course, there are many built in apps for gamification. If you need help navigating this hit reply and let the G&G Team help you add this to your client offerings.
3️⃣Upskilling
Upskilling is exactly what it sounds like, acquiring new skills to level up! Students and Adult learners love an achievement (like we talked about in gamification).
A global study in 2023 found that Gen Z’s (including current 12 year olds to 27 year olds) have a desire for power and achievement. Even more so than millennials, gen X, boomers and the silent generation.
Providing an opportunity to provide upskilling can help satisfy your learners craving for achievement.
That is why more and more Americans spend money on online training, hiring coaches or spending money learning in other ways.
Why is this important to your students?
➡Your students are going to eventually leave your class. What are they leaving with? Is there a certification you can provide them with? In the Career Technical Education world we have commonly seen ServSafe, Youth For the Quality Care of Animals YQCA, Financial Education EverFi and National Career Readiness Certificate or NCRC.
➡Some students aren’t headed to college (and we are perfectly OK with that at G&G). Even still, there might be a way to provide them a certification or at minimum career skills to help them land their first job outside of high school.
➡ If you teach littles, we get that this is a little outside your realm. Upskilling can be as simple as tying shoes, lining up silently in the hall or holding the door open for other people. Those are mighty important skills for your students to learn as people!
Why is this important to you as an entrepreneur?
➡People who undertake Upskilling earn around $8,000 more than peers who haven’t taken training.
➡Think about you! What type of upskilling would help you elevate in your business?
➡People want to be on the “up-and-up” to stay relevant in the job market. What can and do you provide your clients to serve this need?
➡If you have an online course, you are already doing this. What do your clients get to show for their learning? Is there a blurb that you could provide them for their LinkedIn or Resume?
So, trends come and trends go. (Personally I am thankful for the outdated trend of puka shell necklaces.)
I am 87.5% certain that these trends will be here to stay at least until Generation Alpha decides to shake up the whole world.
With these timeless trends (a little bit contradictory, huh?) I’m curious to know, which one will you focus on first? At G&G, we’re personally leaning into SNACK MEDIA, so connect with us on Instagram and let us know what you’re up to!
Saving Your Teacher Sanity with Exit Directions
Have you ever given your students directions and released them to work, only to have multiple kids ask you what they’re supposed to be doing? 😅
I think it’s probably happened to all of us and it can be a real frustration in the classroom as a teacher. To prevent this from happening on an ongoing basis, you can implement exit directions.
Exit directions bring true purpose and clarity in the classroom and quite honestly give you your sanity back!
Picture this: you’ve just delivered directions for what your students should work on next and you’re ready to exit the teaching stage. You project a slide on your board that everyone can clearly see and read.
Your students have little to no questions and are ready to get to work. The rest of class time is filled with students doing exactly what was expected of them and you end class feeling confident in yourself as a teacher!
That’s a picture you want to see, right?!
You can achieve that ⤴️ when you implement exit directions, friend!
What they are not: step-by-step written directions for the assignment - that’s what you give during your teaching time.
What they are: what they should be doing during and after they complete the assignment
For example, exit directions could be something like:
Get into groups of 4
Complete notebook assignment
When completed, get stamp
When done, [insert options they can do]
In order to do this well, we encourage you to couple your exit directions with images or emojis so that it captures your students' attention in a new way and so that it trains them that when they see the image, it sparks something in their brain and they know exactly what to do.
Implementing exit directions allows students to really lead themselves with a little guidance from you so that you aren’t the one having to do all of the heavy lifting throughout the entire day.
Try out Exit Directions in your classroom today to provide clarity, direction and purpose to your students while saving your sanity!
If you are hoping to hear more about Exit Directions, head over to the Green & Growing Education Podcast Episode 128 for our Educational Director to give you more tips and tricks.
Get your students to listen, no matter what.
You are sitting in your classroom, the kids have a group work task to do and you hear the most beautiful sound in a teachers world…collaborative collaboration. You look up and see that each and every student is on task and making progress with their team.
That sounds like what you are looking for right?
But, if we are being honest with ourselves…it might sound too much like a dream.
What if I told you there is a way to get your students to listen, no matter what.
And our creative director Laura Crosby has the answer.
Check out this video to find out how you can live the dream.
How to Get Rid of Sucky Meetings
For over three years, Monday nights have meant G&G meeting nights.
If you’ve been around G&G for a while you know that the entire team works full-time in OTHER jobs. G&G is something we do on the side. So time is of the essence for our meetings.
We also have been exposed to meeting that have made up want to ripe our hair out.
Have you even been in a meeting (or lead a meeting *no judgement*) that
🤦🏿♀️Could have been an email
🤦🏽♂️Nothing got accomplished
🤦♀️Went longer than they told you
🤦🏻♂️You just got talked to the entire time
What kind of emotions does that spark for you?
Maybe you feel like it was a waste of time. Maybe you feel like your presence there wasn’t needed (and you could have used your time better elsewhere. Maybe you feel like those meetings are more like lectures of “do this” or “don’t do that”. Maybe you feel like the meetings aren’t actually deciding anything at all.
Well friends, there is a better way!
You can take charge of the meetings you lead with this simple meeting template.
Here is how to use it so you can have a smooth and effective meeting...
1️⃣ Consistency
Use the SAME template, SAME flow, SAME time, SAME length, every time. Consistency in meetings allows you to show respect to your team members and the real value is they will come ready and prepared for what will come during the meeting!
2️⃣ Decide
Have a section of the meeting to JUST DECIDE (preferably at the beginning). Making decisions takes energy and when you focus in on those decisions you will make them quicker and make sure you get the MOST important things done first.
3️⃣ Tackles
Take time to review every member of the teams tackles. Tackles are something that one team members has ownership over (ex. FFA Secretary's tackle are Meeting Minutes). Give them space to rank themselves and tell the group why. This allows you to see where they need support and you can cheer them on as they complete their tackles.
Take a chance and try it out. Serve your team members with consistency this week.
3 Ways to Manage Student Meltdowns
It's been a rough few days (or years).
Every year seems to be navigating the unknowns of what education will be like today. Because we are pretty sure it isn’t the same as yesterday and tomorrow will be different as well.
It's been less than pretty.
And for your students and possibly you from time to time you might have flipped your lid.
And after attending Bri Guillory's Keynote at Germinate conference in Summer 2022, I can't unsee the visual that reminds you what is really going on when you flip your lid.
It's this hand.
I can't get it out of my brain. Funny, as it represents the brain.
The hand on the RIGHT represents when all the parts of the brain are working in harmony. The "higher level" thinking of the cerebral cortex and the emotional part of the prefrontal cortex.
The hand on the LEFT represents "flipping your lid." Get it?! It's like the brain is disconnected and the emotional center of the brain (that's where FLIGHT, FIGHT or FREEZE takes over) is now driving the car.
Logic can no longer influence behaviors.
I can hear myself saying things like, "let's be quiet other students are still working" or "I understand it’s hard to sit still but you need to while I am talking." All of which were lost as the logic parts of the brain are shut down.
So, why is this all important to teachers?
Well, we've seen this happen. Probably more than once. And maybe it wasn't just with a student, maybe with another adult or even yourself.
We have seen students who have experienced trauma in the past few years (maybe even more incidents than ever).
We will continue to have moments as educators where we have someone flip their lid and we are there to help them find safety again.
I am 100 percent not an expert, but want to pass along some resources to help you the next time you are presented with a situation like this.
1. Exceptional Teacher for Classroom Management
Customized support from teachers who want to help! The G&G community is filled to the brim with teachers who have advice and resources that suit your specific needs. It’s a support system that will allow you to continue pursuing your career with vitality. And, yes there is someone who specializes in classroom management. Get in contact with Katie Green for help to handle a flipped lid!
2. Katie’s Takeaway Document
Need a quick resource? Katie has you covered. Specifically check out her resources for a trauma informed and mindfulness classroom.
3. Podcast
The G&G podcast provides weekly episodes to connect, educate and encourage Agriculture teachers across the country. We also suggest checking out the following podcast episode about classroom management strategies.
Episode 129: Non-Verbal Classroom Management
Episode 60: Surviving to Thriving in 3 Simple Steps with Briana Guillory
Dealing with all the world has thrown at us (and continues to) is a full-time job own its own. Adding in the complexities of a room full of teenagers and that volume of weight exponentially increases. When you find the time to lean into your learning about how to handle these flip your lid type scenarios you will feel more peaceful then next time they come around.
Do you have any other resources that you would recommend?