Educating for an Uncertain Future: Pedagogies That Prepare Learners to Adapt

Instructor: Prof. Michelle Lazarus, Professor, Anatomy & Developmental Biology, Monash University

Speaker Bio

She is a Professor and the Director of the Centre for Human Anatomy Education and Deputy Director of the Centre for Scholarship in Health Education at Monash University, in Australia. She supports development and delivery of high-quality education in diverse learning contexts globally by working in consultation with secondary school teachers, caregivers, tertiary educators and the clinical workforce. She is an award-winning educator having received the Australian Universities Teaching excellence award, and author of the “The Uncertainty Effect: How to Survive and Thrive through the Unexpected”. My entire career is a journey into uncertainty. Her work focuses on enhancing our collective capacity for adaptively and effectively managing uncertainty, also known as uncertainty tolerance as this can influence our capacity for social inclusion, our interactions with emerging technologies (including artificial intelligence, our engagement with sustainable practices, and our own psychological wellbeing.

Summary of the Workshop

This workshop introduces the concept of uncertainty tolerance and its importance in educational and professional learning environments. It begins by helping participants understand where uncertainty arises in learning, how learners cognitively and emotionally respond to it, and why developing tolerance for uncertainty is essential for effective decision-making, adaptability, and professional growth.

Participants then examine research-informed strategies that support learners in managing uncertainty constructively. These strategies focus on helping learners reframe uncertainty as a normal and valuable part of learning, strengthening their confidence, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills rather than avoiding ambiguous situations.

The session includes an interactive workshop component where participants reflect on how uncertainty appears in their own teaching or professional contexts. They explore practical ways to design learning activities that intentionally incorporate uncertainty while providing appropriate support, enabling learners to build resilience and adaptive expertise.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will:

  • Understand where and how uncertainty arises in educational settings and how learners typically experience it.

  • Interpret the evidence base on learners’ cognitive and emotional responses to uncertainty

  • Apply effective, research-informed strategies to help learners develop adaptive skills for managing uncertainty.

  • Design a learning activity that intentionally incorporates uncertainty and supports learners in navigating that experience.

Structure of the session

  • 30 mins: Define the uncertainty tolerance concept

  • 30 mins: Discuss evidence-based strategies for navigating uncertainty in different contexts

  • 30 mins: Break

  • 60 mins: Workshop- how uncertainty is presenting within your context and explore strategies for navigating these

Pre-Reading/Pre-work

This webpage provides a broad overview of how uncertainty tolerance teaching practices can be integrated across diverse educational contexts and disciplines.

Materials Provided to Participants

All materials needed for workshop completion are provided (including card decks and worksheets)