Ian,
I agree. And the good thing is, with the availability of web-based videos, this is often simple & cost-effective.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Knowing Generation Y students attention span does impact my planning. I know I am constantly looking for videos to show to illustrate points as I know this is a visual digital generation as one way. Also there needs to be interaction among students. Although that seems to be beneficial to students from all generations.
John,
I agree on your points here. The rules must be clearly established regarding the use of technology. And it is vital that we demonstrate our understanding & experience with the subject matter.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I personally believe this is not an attention issue, it is they cannot seperate themselves from their habit or constant get it now communication from their friends and social media. How will they perform in their jobs?
Generation Y students tend to mistrust authority. Therefore the instructor should relate his experience with the subject he is teaching to gain their confidence.
The technology can be a distraction to the instructor with students constantly checking their I-pads to see if anyone has texted them in the last minute. Rules have to be layed down for students to turn these devices off during class.
Aaron,
I think this is a great idea & way to engage them right off & allow the use of technology. Best wishes.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I teach a course with brutally long lectures. It has always been a challenge to keep it interesting and get the information across. The "scavenger hunt" is a great change of pace during class. I am considering incorporating a "challenge" into a lecture. I want to have part of the class use only written text for resources and the other half cell phones and internet information to research material related to a lecture then discuss the results as a group as the lecture filling in the important topics along the way. Spending twenty minutes before a lecture doing a "challenge" I feel could help connect students passion for their phone to a lecture instead of wasting twenty minutes during lectures trying to keep them interested and off their phone.
willy,
I agree that wrapping the concepts in compelling stories & examples help the learners retain the information.
Dr. Ryan Meers
You can't just instruct on things that are just nut and bolt, you have to present interesting stories that pertain to the subject matter, or examples of how the subject pertains directly to them personally.
Even though I agree that Gen Y embraces and relies on technology, the rise of ADHD is, in my opinion, partly because of the financial incentives for doctors to diagnose and prescribe medication. It is a way of documenting that they are doing their jobs, much like the public school districts "showing" the implementation of federal mandates while in reality, nothing is really getting accomplished. It reminds me of Denzel Washington's role in the movie Training Day: "It is not what you know; it is what you can prove."
Kelli,
yes, while we don't want to try to "techify" the entire class, looking for ways to incorporate the technology is a great way to reach this generation.
Dr. Ryan Meers
michael,
there are definitely challenges with each generation. Sometimes it points back to the parents of the previous generation. Did the dad's ever take the kids out to the garage & show them how to take the mower apart? Were they too busy in their own agendas?
Dr. Ryan Meers
You have to plan a class with Gen Y learners in mind. They respond well to videos, computer lab work, etc. I have already "pondered" a question in class, and 3-5 Gen Ys are checking for an answer and have the correct info within seconds. This is very new to me in teaching. Before, if I said, "gee, I wonder what the world record in swimming is? (in honor of the Olympics), we would speculate on answers and then I could check at a later time for the correct answer. Now, within seconds, we know the answer!!
Instant information is here to stay!!
Incorporating activites that are more technological in nature, googling as additional resources, and immediate feedback of course work.
I have taught votech students for the past 20 years in that time I noticed that my students have chahnged. The Gen Xers do not participate in lectures. I have not had anyone raise their hand when I ask if "their are any questions" in five years. They seem to think that they will ask me one-on-one when the lecture is over.
They are also, as a group, cluless. They have little hands-on experience with they technology they are studying. By way of example, they have never taken the family lawn mower apart as kids to see if they could get it to work again.
They do not participate in games. I have had to delete all my learning games from the curriculum because they feel it is a waste of their time.
They do stayed connnected to one another.
Sherri,
this is a great point & definitely the multi-generation classroom poses many special challenges.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Mike,
there is defintely a need with this generation to balance the use of technology with requiring them to truly think & learn.
Dr. Ryan Meers
yes it is funny that there are more ADHD in this generation. I have to find ways to keep them active
I have called myself a "teachertainer"!! If I have a classroom of mostly Gen Y's, I know that I need to be fast, entertaining and have them engaged in technology. The more difficult classes are the mixed generations. Sometimes the boomers (and I am one) cannot move fast with technology. Then you have to plan your class with balance hoping to hit the middle. It is difficult.
I believe that the Gen Y students have always had technology so easily at hand that they've not had to put forth much effort in learning. They've not had to walk over to the shelf, pick up a dictionary and look up the spelling or meaning of a word, read it to themselves and determine if that indeed is what they were actually looking for. They simply punch it into their electronic gadget, get an answer and assume that it must be correct if the internet says so. Not a lot of thinking involved there, thus they're not really putting anything to memory. I always insist my students look up the word they're not sure how to spell or its meaning, be it internet or reference books. However, when they miss it in class and state that that's what they found on Google, I ask if they did any further research into the word to make sure it's used correctly in the context to what they actually need. Some are amazed at the multiple definitions provided through Google! Yes, technology is a wonderful tool but, yet, can be a hindrance in the learning process if not instructed to proper usage.
I will admit, I am a "late" Baby Boomer, still using a dictionary right off my shelf. And, yet, love technology! :)
I'm certainly enjoying this course. Thank you.
