Teaching and learning are endeavors that have changed significantly in the decades since the cognitive science and the learning sciences emerged. More accurately, the nature of human learning has not changed, but our understanding of it has changed and this has led scholars and educators to redefine what they expect of students.
Yes, teachers are doing things differently now than they did previously. We are understanding better how humans learn and that is leading us to make better decisions about what wo do with students. Some adults are uncomfortable with what we do today, but they need to realize we are preparing students for their future, not someone else’s past.