It is important to know the different generations of learners because we can learn form each other. I was born in 1960 and I tell my students of the characteristics involved. They then react and we share ideas and it makes for a great discussion.
Knowing the different characteristics of generations of learners can allow you to see how you were taught and how it influences your own teaching method. It also gives you the insight and opportunity to adjust your teaching methods based on the needs of your study body, depending on what generation you teach. Also, in a classroom with mixed generations, it can prepare you for differences that may arise between students, and give instructors more of an idea of how to approach different learning types, and how to vary up their teaching methods in order to include everyone.
A classroom will likely NOT be filled with just those from one generation. Therefore, just as using different learning styles is appropriate, so is targeting the instruction to each generation's particular learning characteristics inorder to be successful.
Said differently, NOT targeting to generational learning characteristics will not likely result in successful outcomes.
Debby,
yes this is a great idea. Many of our students will be working with a variety of generational "customers/patients" & so helping them understand these differences is great (this also can apply to cultural differences).
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Teaching nursing students it is helpful to point out the differences so that the student nurses will understand how to better communicate with their patients and to make teaching moments work for them. Brings teaching into the real world
Kathleen ,
these are good questions:
1) I would say that the student must comply with the rules. Presented with the facts, I would disagree that he can multi-task. If he insists on doing this, perhaps he needs to find another program?
2) The cheating is varied with cell phones--some text back & forth & share answers, similar to older generations passing notes. Some will do a search for answers. And others will take pictures of the test questions for sharing with others.
Hope this helps.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Rebecca,
this is an excellent example of how important it is to understand these differences. Whether generational or simply a learning preference, all of us tend to teach in the way we prefer to learn.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Having read through the replies to several of these threads, I find myself still looking for answers. Most of my students seem to cooperate pretty well with the rule of phones on vibrate, checking messages while on the hourly break, and leaving the room to respond to any REAL emergencies, but I have different issues. 1. What do you do with a student who persists in being in chat rooms throughout class? His response is always "I can multi-task," but he has failed two English courses in a row, so maybe he can't. 2. How are students using cell phones to cheat on tests? I've heard it is happening, but don't know enough about it to prevent it.
With the knowledge of how different individuals prefer to learn it helps me to plan different learning activities to help with these differences. I use Power Point Presentations, group learning activities and hands on labs to name a few.
Daniel,
yes, one of the elementary lessons of presentations is to know your audience & decide how best to reach them with your message. Understanding the various generations assists with this audience analysis.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
By knowing the characteristics of different generations of learners, one has a much wider scope of implementing educational methodologies that will more than likely produce positive outcomes. The adage "know your audience" comes to mind. An instructor needs to tap into the learning characteristics of any specific group in order to achieve the final goal: successful acquistion of knowledge. However, what is one to do in a situation in which there are several different generations in the classroom? This is challenging.
Melissa,
yes, the more we can reach a variety of learners by using a variety of teaching styles the greater chance we have of engaging all learners.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
If you don't know the different characteristics of your learners you will not reach all of them. In the career college environment it is imperative to know this because you may have a class with each of the different generations represented. It is interesting to watch how they interact and help one another to learn in different ways as well. As an instructor it is my job to reach each and every student, so I must use all different styles to deliver my material.
It is important to know the different learning methods of the varied generational learners so you can make adjustments in your classrooms to adapt to those different learning styles.
Chelsea,
this is an excellent point as we currently have one of the greatest mixes of generations in the workplace in history.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
To better teach all multi-generation cohorts, reaching all learners and help them appriciate each others opinion which will carry over to workplace.
Emma,
this is a great point & by helping the various generations in the classes to see this they can be more patient with & tolerant with others.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
It helps you to know which method will reach them most effectively. In a classroom where we could easily have 3 different generations learning all at once it makes it easier to understand why some activities reach certain students while they might appear to frustrate and appear ineffective to others. By understanding that might not be the way they normally learn best you can help coach them through it.
I think it has been very valuable to think about the different characteristics...I think if we consider the information provided here, it helps to explain things that aren't necessarily apparent to us as people who learn differently. Ex: Seems disrespectful to be on your phone during a lecture, however if it is the ability to multitask...then it's really not so disrespectful.
April,
yes and knowing the generations as well as the basic learning styles will give us a greater possibility of reaching all learners.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
