How ‘aesthetic pedagogy’ can get the attention of your Gen Z students

I’ve taught millennial and Gen Z students throughout my career, and the differences in the ways they learn are truly remarkable. Constant exposure to screens has left many experiencing fatigue, apathy and disengagement, affecting their ability to concentrate and participate meaningfully. To counter this, we must design aesthetic and immersive experiences that stimulate their emotions, activate their senses and reawaken the joy of learning. We can incorporate these activities without overhauling the curriculum. 

Aesthetic pedagogy

Aesthetics, in a teaching context, integrates sensory and emotional experiences and thoughtful design in any subject to prompt creativity and well-being. In short, aesthetic pedagogy invites students to slow down, connect emotionally and reflect more deeply with content.

This approach helps counteract binary thinking shaped by social media algorithms and instead encourages sustained attention, careful observation and critical thinking.

Storytelling as a strategy for aesthetic engagement

Storytelling is one of the most effective tools to create aesthetic, emotionally resonant learning experiences. I encourage storytelling through an activity called Design News. I begin class by capturing students’ attention with a rhetorical question, for example: “How would you design the poster for a World Cup held in three countries?” I then show the official posters for each host nation and develop a short narrative around the cultural communication challenges represented in the designs. The objective of this exercise is for students to learn about successful design projects and to realise the importance of researching the social and cultural aspects of the people to whom a graphic message is directed.

We analyse the message, audience and design choices of each poster. Students then draw their conclusions about what the visuals communicate and why. In subsequent classes, students propose topics for new editions of Design News, transforming these storytelling sessions into meaningful, participatory experiences. 

How to incorporate aesthetic pedagogy in your teaching practice

1. Rethink your role – from teacher to experience designer

Design learning activities that replicate real professional challenges. Prioritise assessments that evaluate university competencies in authentic contexts instead of relying exclusively on timed exams. Options include:

• Oral presentations
• Practical problem-solving tasks
• Case studies
• Peer assessments.

This approach caters to various competencies, reducing student anxiety and encouraging genuine learning.

2. Leverage creative platforms for educational purposes

Invite students to produce visual summaries of a topic on TikTok, or to build collaborative boards of key concepts on Pinterest. These platforms transform students from passive consumers to active creators of academic content.

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3. Create micro-joy activities

Many Gen Z students actively seek small, intentional offline moments of joy – brief experiences that feel authentic and disconnected from the digital world. These micro-joy activities help transform learning into memorable experiences.

Encourage students to share their micro-joy moments at the beginning of class or integrate short, playful tasks that spark curiosity. In one of my courses, I encourage students to learn about each other’s interests, emotions, and aspirations in pairs. Based on this brief period of research, each student must then design a poster that promotes their partner’s values. Seeing students smile is a simple but powerful indicator that they are enjoying the learning process and emotionally connecting with the course. 

These kinds of interventions foster belonging, improve focus and provide respite during intensive sessions.

4. Create safe spaces for delayed participation

Promote inclusive participation by incorporating asynchronous or low-pressure tools such as:

• Discussion forums
• Collaborative walls (for example, Padlet)
• Optional audio-based feedback.

These alternatives support students who may be more reserved or overwhelmed by the speed of live discussion. Their contributions are often rich, insightful and well thought out. As instructors, we can reinforce the value of their input by highlighting their most compelling observations – an approach that significantly enhances experiential and reflective learning.

Integrating aesthetic pedagogy through storytelling, co-creation and micro-joy moments offers a powerful way to connect with students and guide them towards more reflective and critical learning. This approach involves creating a sense of wonder in the classroom by crafting immersive learning experiences that evoke emotions and strengthen students’ intellectual capacities. This way, we empower students to navigate an uncertain future with creativity, sensitivity and curiosity.

Fabián Bautista Saucedo is a research liaison coordinator at CETYS University’s College of Engineering.

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