Get Your Students Hired
Rebecca,
yes, pushing them on these skills is so important as they move forward in their careers.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Emma,
this is very true especially given the use of technology. If you lag at all, the phones will come out & it's hard to regroup.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think they are a generation of a lot of structure and demand information quickly and like to know what use the information is to them and what is coming next.
I think in regards to planning, you need to be organized and thinking ahead to keep them busy and have well thought out/creative projects that they will find meaning in
I am from the baby boom generation (tail end) and so it has been difficult to learn how to teach this generation. The students we come across see to feel very entitled and want to be spoon fed. I work to help them develop critical thinking skills for a medically based profession.
Marybeth,
this is very true. And when we may not be the most comfortable with tech, admit it & tell them you are learning. They will respect that attitude.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Henry,
this is a great reminder of the need for we instructors to keep monitoring & to continue to help our students learn appropriateness & when/where they can review social media, etc.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
As an instructor you have to have an interactive classroom. Since this group is so tech savy you have to be comfortable with technology and incorporate it into your classroom.
Although I agree with the premise that all classrooms should be computer labs, we have to be alert to the fact that too much of a good thing can be detrimental to real knowledge in the long run. Once in a lab I witness my students hitting the social media, retail fashion sites, craigslist etc.
I agree very strongly about the focus of the Gen Y kids. Also, they typically do not have the same sort of discipline that the other generations had. It was a normal and acceptable thing at the time to spank your children in all of the other generations, whereas, it is the total opposite with Gen Y. Whether you believe it to be right or wrong, it definitely affects the way children learn as they grow. I am neither condoning or condemning how parents raise their children, I am simply pointing out how the human mind works in that respect.
I currently work with eight students in a clinical setting. This clinical setting does not have electronic upgrades. For example, computerized charting of the clinical assessment is possibly 2-5 years away. Most students realize that this technology is necessary for completion of their work. Regardless, the students are primarily generation Y and expect the "bells and whistles". Otherwise, they are bored. It is interesting to see that these students are moving into a field that has not caught up to their technological experiences. Does this mean that they will become bored upon graduation and acceptance into their chosen field? Did they select a field that will leave them unmotivated and frustrated? Or, will they be the generation that changes the manner in which we provide the skilled care?
Gen Y learners tend to like a lot of media to go along with the subject at hand. I find that pictures and videos are very helpful. I try to be sure to include good photo references to illustrate points made in class as well as videos reinforcing topics.
Because Gen Yers have a tendency to get bored and or like to multi task I also have had success turning on some music during times of "hands on" practice where there is not much talking needed from students or instructor.
I think sometimes that ADHD and ADD is a crutch because the Gen Y students are bored without the constant technology stimulous. These students are just as smart and talented as the ones that are not labeled as such. I think as a society, the medical field is much to quick to label our Gen Y students as such.
April,
yes the more variety we can incorporate into our teaching methods, the greater chance we will have of reaching all of the learners in our classes.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Paul,
you are right that this generation really values the variety in instructional methods.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree with you Richard. This can be a very difficult thing when teaching a challenging topic. I like the fact that the facilitator mentioned that it is a dance where we have to be very cautious to be teaching and using activities in just the right manner. However, another option is when it is a very technical topic to teach to break the topic down into smaller portions and then the activities after this to reinforce the idea. While this may not always be an option, it is a good idea in theory.
I think that this is a really good idea not just for Gen Y students but also to help students who may learn differently be able to grasp the material. For example, some students may not be visual learners and it is more helpful for them to be kinesthetic and to actually do what is being discussed. For other students, hearing the lecture, then seeing it outlined on a power point and every step after that helps to allow them to really grasp the material and for them to remember the information.
I completely agree with you. I have done presentations and taught adult learners and it is a very different experience working with Gen Y learners. I believe that Gen Y learners also have a sense of entitlement that they believe that things should be given to them just because. I have noticed that they do expect to be "entertained" and if they are not they get bored and either stop paying attention or will do other things to keep them entertained. I am not sure if it is true that ADD and ADHD are really more common now only that we are more able to diagnose the symptoms now and " label" the disease now.
To keep Gen Y learners interested in subject material, I believe that educators need to use a variety of instructional techniques, e.g., lecture, small group discussion, and hands-on assignment. In additon,computers and other forms of technology must be used. Then personal experiences can be added to the mix. Hopefully, my Gen Y students will now become involved enough for learning to take place.
I have noticed that students from generation Y do have an attitude that they are going to be successful and see education as a means to get where they want to go, however they are not always able to determine which information is relevant and which isn't in their career area. They don't always "see" the important connections among the different functional areas of business for instance.
Lee,
this really is a good strategy in order to keep the attention of today's learner.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.