Current Generations
I am having problems with dealing with students of the current generation. I am an older generation instructor but teach students of the current generation and have difficulty understanding where there minds actually are and this affects my ability to motivate them properly. I have a diverse group of individuals but find some hard to get through to. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Hi Russel,
As someone who is more or less "of this generation" I would say the best policy is to be open minded. Comments made above about diversity and collaboration are great examples of that, as is the idea of mixing up teaching instruction styles to address learning styles in very concretely different ways (such as visual aids, getting students up and out of their seats, etc). Hope that helps! Good luck.
I can second Manuel's suggestions. I am a younger instructor myself and I find that getting the kids to feel as though they have a voice in their educational environment is essential to keeping the students interested and participating in class. Today's student doesn't just want to be lectured to, they also want to feel as though they contribute to the classroom experience.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for sharing this very good advice. All instructors need to be aware of the diversity in their classrooms. Different age groups and different live experience individuals see things in different ways. We need to be able to blend these groups together into functioning learning communities.
Gary
In my former profession as a company manager, I attended several training courses dealing with the topic of youth and how to assimilate them into the workforce. A lot of time was spent on understanding how the youth of today were raised and what motivates them. After learning how different their environment was from mine at their age, I was able to understand and communicate with them much more affectively and more importantly I was able to develop the behaviors I needed from them. I would suggest seeking such a course in your area or possibly trying one of the many books that have been written on the topic of relating to and managing the youth of today. Another suggestion may be to try a Google search on Gen X, Gen Y, or the Millennia generation.
Hi Diana,
Two good concepts to remember when approaching a class. Since there is a mix of both groups of students it is always challenging to try and meet their respective needs. With these two concepts an instructor will be in a good position to do so. Thanks for sharing them with us. I wish you much success in your teaching.
Gary
I am an "older generation" manager/teacher and have found success by remembering the following:
1) Don't forget that "the basics" remain the same, regardless of age. For example, everybody expects and needs fairness, respect, being held accountible, human kindness, etc. Sometimes we so caught up in the age issue, we forgot that it doesn't have to be that difficult or complicated.
2) The younger generation really thrives on autonomy and recognition for a job well done. They love to be challenged and can bring much to the table if given the opportunity. Fun is also key. Keep things moving fast with lots of new/fun ideas to keep everybody challenged!
Hello Russell,
One thing you may want to try is opening your class with a Q&A session. Now don't just answer questions asked by the students, ask them questions as well, about what they want to achieve by being in your class and goals in life. this may help put you on their level and make them feel closer to yours. I consider myself a young instructor, 26, and that may be a reason why I am able to understand what I have to do to keep the attention of my out-of-highschool students. Try it and let me know if it works.
I think a great idea would be to incorporate the technology field in with your learning. The current generation is highly involved with gaming, computers (powerpoint, youtube), television.....IPODs, etc. I know all the new technology might not be of your interest, but I guarentee if you implement any of these strategies they will be better focused.
Good luck!
I have had very good outcome with groups, due to the fact of any info. that may have been misinterpreted, or just not received well.
Russell,
I find the current generation to be highly collaborative. Group activities might help these students better relate to the material you are covering by allowing them to work in an environment that is more comfortable for them than it was for my (our?) generation. Do you utilize group activities/projects? Do you find the younger students more responsive and/or involved when working in groups?
Hi Russell,
One of the key things for older generation instructors to do is to keep current with the field. This will help the younger generation students to respect the knowledge you have. In addition, use the most current forms of media to present the material. You cannot be something you are not but you can be knowledgeable and current. Also, you can inquire of the students what their thinking is about the day's subject. Learn from their input so you can develop an understanding of where they are coming from. Their career goals remain the same, meaning success in their training so they can get a job in their career area. Capitalize on this. You can relate to this group by sharing your life experiences and expertise. Remembering not to tell old person stories that ramble but focused examples of how things were and are done in your field. All of these efforts will result in you being able to better relate to them. Work hard to establish rapport with them as well. If they know you respect them they will respect you.
Gary
