Instructors are retooling classwork to center execution and lived experience. Two classroom innovations surfaced: Photovoice, a participatory action‑research method repurposed as an assignment in aging and end‑of‑life courses, has driven richer student reflection and engagement by using photography and narrative to surface perspectives. Separately, a skills-framing piece urges students to prioritize an operations quotient (OQ)—the ability to execute reliably—over traditional IQ or EQ in an AI‑enabled workplace. Both moves emphasize applied, experiential work and rapid adaptation: Photovoice gives instructors qualitative insight into student backgrounds and emotions, while the OQ concept reframes curricula toward project execution, coordination and prompt design for human‑AI teams. Pedagogy offices and program directors should consider integrating authentic, performance-based assessments and execution-focused skill development into curricula. Assessment teams will need to define measurable OQ competencies and ensure faculty have rubrics and supports to grade authentic, process‑oriented student work.