Using various strategies to engage Gen Y learners I find to be beneficial. Strategies include open-ended questions, small group discussion and report outs, streaming topical videos, online research and testing, etc.
antonio,
yes, whether large or small group, these discussions seem to work very well in helping students understand the material
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Tim,
I too have found this generation loves to discuss these different scenarios. And this is a great way to develop even more critical thinking in them as they are forced to think through their answers (assuming we truly challenge them).
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Tim,
I too have found this generation loves to discuss these different scenarios. And this is a great way to develop even more critical thinking in them as they are forced to think through their answers (assuming we truly challenge them).
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Open discussions with the entire class works , you'll find them teaching each other at times instead of being forced to look at a power point slide show , bring a topic up and put it out there and let it fly , usually the results are positive .
I encourage them to connect the lessons to their own experiences and then share the information. These students enjoy discussions and sharing their own knowledge on a subject.
When teaching skills we break up into small groups. The students take turns coaching and helping each other to master the skills that I have demonstrated earlier.
Asking for their thoughts and ideas on certain subjects is definitely they way to go in that respect. I will often offer up a scenario and allow the students to ask questions and offer solutions as to handle it.
Christine,
they definitely appreciate the more active learning & the integration of discussion & group work.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
This is a really good way to review for exams. This also helps students to understand what they do not know and allows them to use competition in a healthy way to help them reinforce the ideas that they do/do not know. It also helps them study verbally in a way that helps to reinforce information.
This is an interesting idea. By allowing students to research the answer to a problem, we are giving them the tools to be self reliant a skill in which much of this generation is lacking. This is also good because if everyone is looking for the answer, there will be a sense of urgency to complete the task. Another option to help keep the class on task is to pose a problem to the class and then break the problem into sub problems and divide the class into groups. This way the class had to work in groups to solve the problem (which most Gen Y learners do well in anyway) and they are using technology to answer the questions.
One strategy for engaging generation Y learners includes ensuring the learning process is relevant. Students want to feel connected to the learning experience and will be more motivated with real-life, problem-solving scenarios. For example, when learning how to manage the care of an 80-year-old, the student can be given a scenario and asked to apply basic knowledge of this generation in order to deliver the best and most compassionate care. This process may improve critical thinking skills through analysis and problem-solving.
i think when integrating group activities, duscussions, and projects that are mostly hands on, it really keeps the Gen Y learners interested. Having them read long book chapters and long lectures definitely pushes their interest away. Keeping things current helps keep them engaged.
perhaps the business environment is changing as well, as technology changes people will too.
I enjoy discussion board activities; whereby, the instructor posts a topic on the student portal or e-mail, and students perform individual research projects, providing comments on at least two of their peers work. In this way, the students are able to learn from each other, providing valuable feedback.
Diane,
these are all great strategies that should really help connect with this generation of learners.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I ask them questions about what I have covered and provide repetition. I try to show the relevance in what they are learning. I also give them quick feedback on test scores, papers. etc.
Jessica,
this is a great strategy as it forces them to think & to do the work that they are fully capable of doing.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
When my students ask me a question that I know they know the answer to, I ask the question back to them. It makes them think of the answer instead of just spoon feeding the information into them.
Some of the strategies I have used to engage Generation Y learners was to completely redesign my courses so that the students got to use there peripherals but only on airplane mode (so they don't text). I either had them work individual or in teams with only 1 student using an electronic device with access to the internet to try and find the information and the discuss it as a team and finally had them present it to me and each one had to turn in a paper on what and how they did achieved it. As an instructor it helped me out as well because I got to learn from all the students new search engines, new devices, and how to better interact with them, what problems they were having and how to overcome it. I'm not scared of technology just have to find a way to blend it in the classroom so its good for everyone.
