It is extremely important to understand the differenct learning styles of different generations. First of all, by understanding their background you can better present the material in a way that they will understand and retain the information. Secondly, being able to identify these differences can make you a better teacher overall allowing you to grow as an instructor. It is a challenging task to teach all 4 generational learners at the same time but it can be turned into a positive experience for both educators and students alike.
Gina,
this is definitely true & it provides a great way for you to be able to tap into the diversity that's there.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I have some students that are older than me, some younger than me and some about my age. With that much variety in my classes, it helps to be able to understand the characteristics of each generation.
Karen,
I agree with your statement & would add that this makes us more able to reach all learners, whether of diverse generations or not.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The main value of knowing the characteristics of different generations will inabile the instructors to reach cross-generations. As career college professionals we are challenged daily to reach a diverse group of students. The more understanding we have about the learners we serve, the more effective our delivery of information will be.
What are some of the techniques you have most most useful a the classroom of Millennial Learners?
Rosa,
yes, the more information we have in this area, the better prepared we are to help each of the learners we encounter.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I beleieve recognozing and learning different learning styles better prepares me to teach a new class more efficiently.
Alice,
and I think a key to this is that we not lock into "our way" but we try to understand the variety of learners in our classes & help them as much as possible.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
It is valuable to know the different characteristics of different generations so that we can utilize this information to plan more effective lessons in the classroom. The more understanding we have towards each generation, the better prepared we can be to relay the information.
It is interesting how generations of different time periods relate to the gameshow approach; especially shows like Jeopardy.
The "Dating Game" is another version of gameshow that gets the student involved in the learning process.
For example, For a Nutrition course, a group of students may be given a subject, like food additives, which would be represented by students who are trying to win a date with the main male or female character. The main male or female character would ask questions about the "personalities" of the food additives and they could describe what an evening with them would be like (e.g., a date with yellow dye number 5, Olestra or MSG).
Knowing the characteristics of different generation of learners helps the educator to implement different teaching styles into the curriculum to engage the different generations of learners. Also providing insight to the educator of how the different generations of learners interact in the classroom.
We all have different learning styles, however, each generation has its own style of learning. Knowing how to adapt and be able to find a median between all the generation helps their learning.
It allows you to understand the characteristics of your generation and how that effects your teaching method in respect to not reaching some of those from the other generations in your class. This allows you to adjust your method of teaching to reach more students.
Jennifer,
I think this is the best kind of approach; I personally have found a lot of resistance to the reading the book ahead of time, but I personally insist upon it.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I too try to have many different ways to learn, power point while I am lecturing, printing the power point so they can take notes. And I expect the book to be read prior to the lecture.
Its important to me so that I can know what ways to engage them in class and what will get their attention. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to be lecturing just to find a student texting or on their facebook on the cell phone and losing their attention in class.
Q:What is the value of knowing the characteristics of different generations of learners?
There is tremendous importance as an educator of knowing these characteristics of these particular generational cohorts. In my experience as both, educator and as a student, I find that the classroom is rapidily evolving into the Gen Y enviroment. I say that, "first and foremost" as an educator who is constantly encouraged to use the most up-to-date simulations that produce an instant result for the student, resource materials in each textbooks that heavily emphasised in the use of multimedia with the ability to interact. As a student, I find that there is a even spread in the learning styles of these cohorts, especially in the more traditional learning diciplines, such as Medicine. Memorization, lecture are still standard practice, but there is a push for research in "evidence based medicine" that do require the skill set that best fits the Gen Y learner. So, in conclusion, I would agree that knowing these generational styles will make you a better provider for a subject or course that encompasses all these cohorts, but really prepare for Gen Y, because there is a revolutionary change happening in education as we speak.
Dorenda,
yes & I also think it makes us more flexible & adaptable in the moment so we can move "faster" in certain situations.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The value of knowing the characteristics of different generations of learners is the instuctor is more effective in that he or she can create lesson plans and use learning tools exclusive to the learning styles of each generation.
all learning styles can benefit from a diverse instructional format.Knowing the characteristics of diffrent generations can help the instructor to sway his delivery methods if there is a larger amount of students from a given generation.
