Monday, July 28, 9:30AM-12:00PM, in person, Surrey campus, Arbutus 2410 (2nd floor library)
Today’s post-secondary learners face rising anxiety, fluctuating motivation, and increasing pressures on their time and attention. Rapid technological changes further challenge faculty in engaging students, particularly first-year students. This interactive session will examine the realities students face, including diminished resilience and shifting expectations, and explore strategies for fostering success. Drawing from KPU’s learner personae and faculty experiences, we’ll discuss engagement tactics, intrinsic motivation, and deeper learning. Participants will gain practical tools to create inclusive, future-ready learning environments through meaningful assessment design, technology integration, and universal design principles.
Through engaging in the activities and content of this workshop, you have the opportunity to
Identify key characteristics and challenges of 21st-century post-secondary learners at KPU
Reflect on their own teaching context and the evolving needs of their students
Apply student-centered engagement strategies such as personalization, real-world relevance, and timely feedback
Explore how like digital literacy, universal design for learning, and authentic assessment can foster engagement into their courses
Recognize their impact as educators and commit to practices that build student agency, motivation, and long-term resilience
