Sure, one can always get the students to relax and be happy - entertained, but although being laid back and relax can also lead to creativity, mostly it means that nothing much gets done.
In my opinion, no single design is apt to be optimal for everyone.
I think there is a tendency in science to measure what is measurable and to decide that what you cannot measure must be uninteresting.
And to get real work experience, you need a job, and most jobs will require you to have had either real work experience or a graduate degree.
So what does a good teacher do? Create tension - but just the right amount.
Everyday people are not very good designers.