The buzzwords are back ... though they never really left

[MarisaBluestone]

In this continuation of our jargon decoding series, we’re looking at a few more of the terms you keep hearing around faculty meetings and email blasts to find out what’s really behind the buzz. While these words may sound trendy, they’re rooted in real challenges that deserve our attention.

Sometimes the idea behind the buzzword is solid, but the way we execute it falls flat. Other times, what’s missing is a clear explanation. Not just of what the term means, but what it looks like in real life, with real students in a real classroom. While these words may sound trendy, they're actually responses to very real challenges educators face: declining student engagement, shorter attention spans, questions about career preparedness, and the pressure to prove educational relevance in a rapidly changing job market.

And sometimes, well, the buzz is louder than the actual benefit.

Let’s dig deeper into a few more of the buzziest of the buzzwords in education and why you’re hearing about them.

Workforce Readiness

Why you’re hearing it: As job roles shift, and entirely new ones emerge, there’s rising demand for adaptable workers with both technical know-how and transferable (“durable” or “human”) skills. Without these capabilities, students will struggle to secure meaningful employment or advance in their careers after graduation.

That growing pressure to show real-world relevance has pushed workforce readiness beyond technical schools and into a wider range of classrooms. Skills like critical thinking and complex problem solving are becoming more critical, as they complement rather than compete with AI.  With that in mind, instructors across disciplines are weaving in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving not because it’s trendy, but because that’s what employers are consistently asking for.

This buzzword is all about helping students recognize how their coursework builds the flexibility they’ll need after graduation, and how the skills they’re picking up along the way matter in the “real world.” Universities are responding with everything from microcredentials and competency-based education to project-based learning programs. But even at the classroom level, whether it's a mock client pitch, a research project tied to community issues or a lab report written for a public audience, these moments help to bridge the gap between classroom and career.

Of course, there's always a balance to be mindful of; focusing so heavily on "real-world skills" that you lose disciplinary depth, or assuming one mock presentation checks the workforce readiness box for the entire semester. But when done thoughtfully, these approaches help students see the value in what they're learning.

• The Hidden Curriculum: How Instructors Are Teaching the Skills Students Really Need
• Helping Students Build Real-World Skills: 6 Engaging Classroom Activities That Work

Edutainment

Why you’re hearing it: Edutainment blends educational content with formats that feel more like entertainment including podcasts, choose-your-own-path modules, and even game mechanics. The term might still raise a few eyebrows, but the strategy behind it is gaining traction. 

Don’t let the name fool you. It’s not about making learning silly or superficial. In fact, many instructors are using edutainment to increase depth and complexity: weaving storytelling into science lessons, introducing difficult texts with humor, or designing multimedia activities that require synthesis and reflection.

When it works, it invites curiosity and meets students in formats they already know and love. It helps them to stay present, make connections, and engage more deeply with the material. The key is maintaining that balance between engagement and substance. It's easy to let the entertainment take over, when students remember the joke but not the concept, or when engagement becomes more important than actual learning outcomes. Done right, though, it creates the kind of memorable experiences that stick.

For concrete examples of how educators are implementing these approaches, from late-night comedy-style teaching videos in psychology to using viral games like Wordle for biology concepts, check out the upcoming webinar Memorable Meaning Making: Humor and Creativity as Effective Teaching Techniques on October 9 at 12pm ET. The free event features educators Jim Morris (Brandeis), Roger Freedman (UC Santa Barbara), and Steve Ross (Mid Michigan College).

In the meantime, here are a few ways to think about how to bring the fun into the fundamentals, without watering anything down.

• Lessons from Game Design: Turning Learning into Engaging Experiences
• The Double-Edged Sword of Competition: Fueling Student Success or Causing Stress

Flipped Classroom: 

Why you’re hearing it: An oldie but goodie, we’ve been hearing about this one for quite some time. But recently the buzz has become even buzzier because lecture fatigue is real for both students and instructors. And engagement doesn’t always come from the front of the room.

The idea behind a flipped classroom is simple: students review foundational content on their own time so class time can be used for deeper learning, discussion, or hands-on application. Instead of assigning readings or videos as homework after the lesson, the prep work becomes the lesson’s jumping-off point. This model has gained traction as students seek more interactive, real-time support, and instructors look for ways to make better use of their limited face-to-face hours. 

But flipping takes careful planning, structure, and clear expectations. It isn't just about moving content around, it requires rethinking both what students do outside class and how you use your time together. Without proper scaffolding for the prep work, or without redesigning in-class activities, you might end up with the worst of both worlds, resulting in unprepared students and unfocused class time. Plus there also needs to be trust that students will show up prepared. When done well, there will be more space for collaboration, coaching, and critical thinking.

Behind each of these buzzwords is a real problem that deserves our attention. So before we tune out these opportunities, it’s worth asking how we can help make sure the conversation doesn’t stop at the jargon. 

Want to dig deeper? Check out Part 1 in the Beyond the Buzzword blog series, where we discuss authentic assessment, active learning and Title 2. Or you can register for our Beyond the Buzzword webinar series to explore why these ideas matter and how they’re shaping classrooms today.