It is relevant to them, allows them place emphasis on areas that are of interest directly to them and they can incorporate many of the tools that are important to them - technology and team work, for example.
Judy,
yes, while we may feel like we are entertaining them too much, the reality is we need to keep their attention so they can learn.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree keep it entertaining and exciting and they will want to be in your class
Matthew,
I don't think the ideas are mutually exclusive, we share the stories & provide opportunities for experiential learning.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Many Gen Yers have grown up with social and activity calendars that are fuller than their parents' own calendars. They are a generation on the move, but often with someone else driving them there. I almost see the instructor as a conductor or even a vehicle in experiental learning--if you get them there, and the destination is interesting, then they are on board.
So much of what I keep seeing on these forums borders on negativity towards this generation. I actually have an opportunity to work occasionally with the some of the youngest members of this generation, and they are energetic and open to new experiences, even if they might be slow to motivate at first. We as instructors just have to be willing to change and adapt enough to meet them halfway, so we can then get them to change and adapt as well.
I would have to disagree to an extent with this statement. Yes, while they do like the sharing of information, and I think many of them consider it sharing rather than cheating, they do like to experience things on their own as well. Just sitting and listening to the experiences of others is boring to them. As the lesson said, these are kids who dive into things and only read the manuals if they get stuck and absolutely have to. They like to get involved; they are one of the most involved generations ever, often participating in many social and extracurricular activies. They find value in participation as long as the payoff is relevant and desirable.
For the Gen Y learner who believes that they have an attachment to the rest of the world, experiential learning is full of fun and excitement. The student learns by doing something through observation or hands on learning from which they can form their thoughts and/or conclusions. Going to the library and reading a book is not as exciting as going out and living the experience on something that you are interested in. The world is a place of learning through feeling and sensing. For example, in the eyes of a Generation Y learner, which is better, being able to touch and feel the experience of being at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris or curling up with a book about the Eiffel Tower from the public library?
Dr. Randy ,
this is true that the movement can aid learning in many ways.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Because they get easily distracted and bored. They need more stimulation than previous generations so doing something physical as well as mental helps retention and motivation.
Charles,
and the groups are a great introduction to the team-based work that many of them will be doing in the future.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Rae Lynne,
the experiential learning is a great way for them to learn & grow, as long as we are helping them in connecting the dots & debriefing the material.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
In my experience, students grumble about work in teams initially but overall they appreciate the experience. The hands-on type of education style fits a lot of the students learning style. I try to incorporate some type of experiential learning tasks in each of my classes.
I believe they value experiential learning because they are used to being active and having interaction the majority of the time. Experiential learning is active style learning and gives them the freedom to dig further into the areas that interest them as they are doing research, finding information, etc.
Sometimes too much of one thing is not effective. Using too much powerpoint requires the lights to be off in the classroom and the students get even more distracted. I agree keeping it to a minimum is best.
This generation of learners likes to see the relevance of everthing to them. An instructor who draws on their own experience shows a student how knowledge can be applied from their field of study to practical use in "the real world". They are not impressed with lots of knowledge, they can get it from google!!! But, if you show them how they can benefit from the knowledge, they are hooked.
they value this because drawing from life experience is a garantee that they will own what is being taught. if we can give them the opportunities to experience in school what they will experience in the field then even if they dont get all of it in the class room they will be able to draw from thier calssroom experience and be successfull in the workplace.
Experiential learning is valued by everybody. While others prefer some mode of instruction before doing, eventually the task must be done. There is a limit to how much can be taught. The greatest learning comes from doing. I agree that Gen Y is much more willing to jump in and do before being taught. This gives them an advantage for becoming successful in any field.
The Gen Y student is the "Do it yourself individual". They prefer to learn as they go, using trial and error rather than reading a book or manual first. They gain a sense of accomplishment by using this method - "I did it myself!"
Mark,
and the key is to make sure that we debrief these learning experiences so the successful behaviors can be repeated & the ineffective behaviors can be avoided.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Almost everybody likes to learn through doing. In kindergarten, we don't talk about finger painting, we finger paint.
In junior high, we don't talk about singing in a choir, we sing.
In high school, we don't talk about being in a band, we play in the school band. We don't talk about teamwork, we play on the football team.
In college speech class, we don't talk about public speaking, we give speeches and critique them afterwards.
"Do first, discuss later," is the motto of experiential learning. If we want to learn to swim, we don't read a book on swimming, we jump into the pool and do it. If we want to learn about Facebook, we don't read about Facebook, we join Facebook and play around with it.
