Lissete,
this is a good point & I think we have an opportunity to show our students the other uses of technology beyond just entertainment or communicating with friends.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
From my experience in conducting classroom presentations to Gen Y students, I find they can lose interest very quickly. One must be creative in presenting material, engage the students through activities or ice breakers during the presentation, share experiences, and relate the material back to the students. A lot of job search examples shared during the presentations require the use of technology, for example, demonstrating online search engines, researching websites, and watching interviewing techniques on you tube which Gen Y students can relate to.
Virginia,
this is an excellent example of a great use of the technology in the classroom, if it's available to us. There really are so many useful (not just gadget) apps for tablets now days.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
We have been using the i pad in classroom-able to see the brain in 3 dimensions--how great that is. Students pull up power points on their own computer-access link sites, and we use the Smart Board. We cover lectures, have discussion and do evaluation at each class meeting. The class is constantly being challenged. Love that Generation Y.
jennifer,
yes, the parenting styles also seem to be generational & I would agree that part of our challenge with Gen Y learners is helping them realize that they are not equally evaluated in the workplace.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I am a classic Boomer with a brother and sister, but our 3 younger siblings are really GenX. I notice a big difference in how we went through school. GenY students do seem to want everything more equal (grades, opportunities, etc.), but I think it is more the fault of their parenting that has created unrealistic expectations.
Freddie,
yes, with this generation we must learn to embrace the technology & find value in its use in the classroom.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
It is important for instructors to understand Gen Yers, because they will know which teaching style to use. Te instructors will know that the use of technology will probably be useful in the classroom.
Yes, that is true. They have a desire to succeed and want to fulfill expectations, in return for praise.
James,
this is an excellent point & one that we have been discussing much recently at my institution. We have to help our students understand the value of the face to face.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Robb,
I agree with you. While the Gen Y learners seem to expect the good grade, I have found that when I lay out the expectations they typically are good to fulfill them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I teach exclusively adults and I have a wide mix of Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y learners in my classes. The Gen Y students like to have things moving and be stimulated by technology. The Gen Y students are constantly looking at their cell phones (can't be without them even for 5 minutes.) As an instructor, this can be difficult to deal with.
The Gen Y learners always want to know what they need to do next in the class. The Boomers and Gen X ones are not as quick to look for what to do next and will often just wait for me to give them something to do.
Generation Y learners have many sources for gaining knowledge. They are no longer tied to books or libraries as their sole source of reference material. Gen Y can (and does) seek information from online tutorials and videos, message boards, Facebook and Twitter. They can get information quickly and easily from anywhere that they want. The classroom has A LOT of competition.
Knowing this, today’s instructors must plan to offer the student something that the student cannot find from other sources. The instructional plan must include personal interaction with the student; it must demonstrate that the instructor has real world experience; it must offer advice on how the information can be useful to the student right now. The instructor must plan to ask pertinent and thoughtful questions that deal with real world situations and how the information learned in class can be immediately applied to current situations.
The Gen Y learners need to be involved in their learning and receive frequent stimulation and praise. This is the group that grew up watching TV, posting on Facebook, Tweeting and doing homework all at the same time. A constant state of stimulation. Additionally, this generation grew up in schools where everyone was rewarded for trying, not for success. Self-esteem was the buzz word and of the utmost importance.
This had the negative result of a group that feels entitled to succeed. Many students in the Gen Y cohort feel that if they show up every day to class, they deserve an "A" in the course, regardless of performance.
Objectives and expectations must be made clear from the very beginning, so the Gen Y learner understands what is necessary for success.
Wendy,
this is a good comment & you are right that we should not blame it all on technology. I think tech becomes the easy scapegoat when in reality there are many issues to be addressed.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
When preparing to teach I try to incorporate lecture, hands on in-class labs, video and Q&A into each subject. I feel this approach helps keep a class fresh and interesting regardless of the generation sitting in the seats. As a Gen Xer I feel a connection to the learning styles of Boomers and Yers and a combination of traditional and contemporary teaching approaches feels natural and makes the most sense to me for delivering an effect lesson plan.
Check out the book "The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America".
I totally agree. My students generally feel that they all deserve an "A" just for showing up. They tend to demonstrate rather superficial understanding of many topics, but little understanding of anything in depth. Generally (there are always exceptions of course) I find that the majority are either unable or unwilling to think critically. Don't blame it all on technology. Interested readers may want to take a look at "The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America".
I hear you. We have the same problem with the texting in class. Instead of trying to fight it I try to include google searches in class.
I agree with that you have to learn how to entertain them to keep them engaged. I find that I have to do this on a daily basis and what the students dont understand that this can be very exhausting but by doing this I am learning from them also.
