GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES
As teachers we must learn how to bridge the gap between the different cohorts that are in the classroom. Many people are experiencing lifestyle changes now a days, therefore many people are going back to school after being out of school for many years. I have found that there is a mixture of at least two or three of the different generations in the classroom. How do I as an instructor include everyone in each generation in the classroom learning experience?
James,
this is a great strategy as they will be working with a variety of generations in the work place as well.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
My class often has mixed generations. I can definitely notice the lack of attention span on my Gen Y students. I find what works for me is to mix the different generation of students together into small groups when they are in lab.
Barbara,
this is an excellent question. The first step is making an effort to understand the generations and also simply identifying that some of your students have vast life & work experiences already. How can you demonstrate value for those & help them incorporate those into the class? I would encourage pondering those types of questions.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Teaching a classroom made up of different generations can be challenging. Obviously, adult learners will have much different expectations then Generation Y students. I approach the challenge much the same way I handle visual versus auditory learners. You have to mix it up.
My classroom lectures, activities, and projects have to include everyone. So, with careful planning, I can address everyone's preferred learning style. This can seem like a daunting task considering the amount of technology in the classroom. But it also allows a greater number of resources to be incorporated.
I can't imagine what the next generation will be like since they are using tablets in the classroom at early ages. But I feel like the access to the internet and online resources will greatly improve learning efficiency and lead to more interest-driven curriculum.
