Freddie,
this is so true and while a generation ago, we were left to find the relevance for ourselves, it is the instructor who now needs to help them see the relevance.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
James,
yes, this is very true of this generation & so provides a great way for us to engage them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Gen Yers want to have relevance in their learning. As they get the opportunity to take ownership in a relevant subject matter, they will have fun learning.
Because they love to hear about the results of what knowledge in a specific field can achieve. They are result oriented and want to hear the success stories. WOW, you mean if I learn this subject matter well than I can do that??? SIGN ME UP!!!
I think that with many, many computer games players and Internet users, they have become ingrained to participate in (and expect from) almost instantaneous learning experiences on their own many times. Therefore, many do not need the old-fashioned school marm, but possibly the facilitator from time to time.
Also their actual learning may be more of "what" THEY want "when" THEY want it, which may not be in synchronization with OUR lesson plan for them. In other words, we can assume that each student gets the "same things" out our lessons; but in reality each may get "something different" out of a lesson.
There is no substitute to an actual experience. Have a student actually experience something forces the development of a relationship with what is actually being presented. Students today are very hands-on learners which comes from the amount of technology that is readily available for them. As I have mentioned in previous discussion threads, generation Y require brain stimulation to maintain focus. Video games, internet, TV are continuously flashing changes in pace and topics which has “branded†an expectation of learning from those that are exposed. To place an analogy to his “paceâ€â€¦.if we are driving down the interstate at 75 mph for five hours, as soon as we exit and have to slow down to 35 mph, it seems as if we are just crawling along. This pace change is really only perception but it is the perception of this generation. Students today need the actual experience to keep up with the pace of their learning style.
Experiential learning helps the student see possible outcomes for the application of the material they are studying, the tasks they are learning to perform & the monitoring of the results of their application of knowledge & skills.
Because most experiential learning is fast, fun and not writing down information but processing information in doing the hands on experience, they will be motivated to do this activity. The problem I run into is that we need to get some procedures in writing Protocols and Procedures need to be step by step before they can learn the steps and do it. Many want to jump in and make the mistakes first and then will see the rationales for why we need to start at the basics.
Sometimes the information gathered in computer will miss the rationale or research to make the information wrong or right. Students may be looking at unreliable sources and may not think past the problem solving perspective.
They want to not only know the information that's coming from a didactic standpoint, this generation likes to know how that information from the lecture or text applies to "real life" and what it's going to mean to them as far as "getting their hands dirty" when they apply it to their career after graduation.
Keith,
yes, it is definitely a tried & true method for learning.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think because they have a little more involvement in the learning process, makes it more relevant to them.
Experiential learning goes way back in history. I believe people retain information better if there is an interesting story to back it up.
Maria Luisa,
and our students can learn much from the experiences that we share with them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Real situations and life experiences goes hand in hand in teaching and helps retain the information
Patricia,
this is an excellent point & illustrates that need for immediate feedback.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I keep PowerPoint to a minimum also. In one course I email the presentations to everybody but don't use them in the classroom at all. Some of the students highly value the PowerPoints, but we keep things active and interactive in class. We work problems on the board, in groups, and individually. Sometimes students do peer teaching to present a topic. I perform an example of each type of problem on the board so that they can see it evolve instead of seeing the whole thing at once in PowerPoint; they understand where it came from better that way.
Experiential learning involves immediate application, immediate feedback and immediate results. They live and function in a "real time" world.
Lairlyn,
I agree & we also need to help them to learn how to evaluate the information & use it in connection with the experience.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Because of all the information available to them growing up.
Students have pretty much access to all educational materials we can provide. They value more experience because it is something different and individualize.
