Is social media making Gen Z less social? The Akron Beacon Journal in a recent feature centered on ¹ú²úÂ×Àí Senior Lecturer Aaron Maguire and his Communication and Conflict Management course in the School of Communication Studies.
Maguire, who has taught at ¹ú²úÂ×Àí for 11 years, evolved his teaching after noticing the impact of constant screen time on students’ ability to connect in person. His classroom operates less like a traditional lecture and more like a conversation around a kitchen table, with lessons tied to practical skills like conflict management, self-disclosure and professional interaction.
The approach is working. Students in his classes can be heard talking and building community in the hallways of Taylor Hall – sometimes loudly enough that colleagues have to close their doors.
The story also featured several ¹ú²úÂ×Àí students and graduates, including recent alumna Jess Edmisten, who said the communication and negotiation skills she learned in Maguire’s class have directly helped in her marketing career.
