Variety
I normally teach 4 hour classes. Variety is a key component to holding the stufdents interest. The Gen Y students in particular as easily distracted by the world around them and also want to be involved.
Vary your delivery methodologies. Use power point, then switch to lecture, then incorporate another instructor, an outside speaker, someone from career services. Vsriety can truly be the spice of life...
Or any generation of learners. It is great to use variety if it truly draws in a range of learning styles, but for that to work we have to watch our pacing and make sure the lesson objective dictates form. Otherwise, we end up leaving students thinking how "cool the graphic" or "funny the joke" or "enjoyable the music" was, but they can't say what the point of it all happened to be.
Brian,
this is a good point & a key one to remember. We have many generations (often) in our classes & too much variety can throw some individuals off their game.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Variety is a good thing as long it happens from day to day. I try to limit the variety in one particular class to enhance the focus on the tasks at hand. Too much shifting gears can confuse lots of adult learners.
I cannot agree more. In an effort to engage students and also give them the same information in various ways, I have about 4 different activities reenforcing the same information.
I also teach classes long classes that are close to 5 hours in length. I do find that the generation Y students tend to get distracted very easily and lose interest. I have tried to incorporate technology that they are familiar with and show them how they can use it to gain further knowledge. I have used You Tube video tutorials and professional forums in the classroom to enhance their experience. I find that providing short breaks throughout the class to be very helpful.
I definately agree that "variety is the spice of life" and with Gen Y learners. To make a subject more apealing you need to add this variety and engage the students in this concept also with their assignments
Amanda and Colleagues
Recently I tried something in class because of the variances in generations and diversity in the classroom.
I had the class formulate themselves as a team and their assignment was to research a series of unsolved homicides in Suffolk and Nassau counties in Long Island, New York along the south shore beaches. They would have a week to do the research and during our next class the team with all members participating would provide a comprehensive investigative plan.
I created a virtual forum for them to spend the week communicating with each other. When our class met they provided their plan with each member speaking about an aspect of the team's plan. The excitement of trying to solve something that was contemporary was too much to resist for all of the Generations present in the class. The class was made up of Gen X and Y students.
I was very pleased with the interaction and depth of thought they brought to the assignment.
Al
I think that you have a refreshing approach in your classroom that is probably appreciated by the Y Generation.
amanda,
this is a good point for us to keep in mind; in our efforts to reach the Gen Y learners, we must be needful of not isolating the other generational cohorts.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
i agree however sometimes the variety can be a distraction to the other generational cohorts
I so agree. I've been utilizing TED talks, movie clips, group activities, memoir pieces, etc. Anything to help them retain the information. I've also moved towards more open-book exams, primarily because the class I teach (Psych) is a gen ed., and I want them to know where to go to FIND the information, rather than memorize and forget it. What are your thoughts on this?
