I hear this a lot from my students. I find it very important to know the answer beyond yes. What I mean is an instructor who can say, "Yes you do have to BECAUSE...you will get _____ out of it and that will be helpful in the future when you ____." Make sure students know the value of the lesson and how it relates to their goals.

It is interesting to think about what events and inventions have influenced how different generations learn. Vetrans had World War II and had to get by with less. Their work ethic is very dedicated. Baby boomers went through a time of protest and in the classroom they also seem to question everything as a result. Gen X spent much more time figuring out things indepently and they are less likely to ask for help. Just knowing these traits is useful as an instructor. You can tailor your approach by just noticing the differences between the generations.