They are nomadic in a variety of ways. They are not only free to move geographically, they are also free to move between modes of communication.
The term "nomadic" has been used to describe the current college students' culture of wireless and mobile connectedness in the sense that they are not "rooted" but incredibly flexible and fluid when it comes to their social connections and their virtual life culture. This refers not only to their uses of social networking tools but also to the reality that they are connected wirelessly in any situation and for any reason. They are essentially nomads when it comes to their life "space." Students bring to the course an extensive network of information input, peer connections, and the potential of a wider scope of application than has been the case until now.
Actually, that hasn't been my experience with many of my students. Some of them want to be spoonfed "answers" or how to do things. Perhaps this is the kind of student who is not best suited to online learning environments.
Students are now able to access courses and other information literally everywhere they go because of wireless technologies. They're able to use a variety of means as well, such as smartphone, PDA, tablets or notebooks, and similar technologies. The only limit is internet accessibility and even that is expanding these days, with wifi available in libraries, McDonalds and other retailers, and some cities with open wifi access, not to mention sidespread connectivity at home. On the other hand, there is some concern that not all students do have this kind of access, hence efforts to provide the poor with more ability to connect.
Why is this generation of students often referred to as "nomadic" learners?
Students today have access to information through their wireless and mobile connections, their social networks. They do not need to sit and wait for information anymore. And we have to understand these social communication and other technology tools in order to be able to instruct them in a way that provides a meaningful learning environment & experience for them.
Something happened in our campus' restaurant kitchen recently.
One of our students was prepping for lunch service; the Chef asked her to get the lentils ready, and then he went back to the other side of the kitchen.
She got her iPhone, the pot and the lentils.
After a brief pause, she got to work.
When I asked what she was doing, she replied "I missed that class; I didn't want to hold up the class or Chef, so I looked it up".
While not exactly what we as instructors plan for our course delivery, it is an example of the students we are now teaching.
The lentils came out great.
David,
The nomadic characteristics can require coordination, however, as you say, an effective instructional design would target that.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
The nomadic learner is a reality and we had better learn to embrace this reality.
The nomadic learner may ore may not have coherence in his or her learning. It may be fragmented. A good teacher and syllabus can bring ideas, concepts, theories etc. into a unified whole. Does this make sense? To me it does.
Because they are not bound by any geographical, technological, or physical boundaries. They can be anywhere on pretty much any device at this point and it doesn't matter.
David,
Very true...and the idea of no "physical" classroom but a dynamic learning communuity...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
A nomad moves around. Consider the nomadic Mongolian able to move to another location with their belongings and pack animals. Well, now with the Internet storing huge amount of data on the cloud, learners can pick up knowledge in a coffee shop via free WiFi just as easily as in a lecture and probably with more enjoyment. There are multiple ways to gain knowledge and rather than resent this, we as teachers need to embrace this new normal and make it work.
This generation is referred to as nomadic learners because everything is on the "go". It amazes me how many students do their online courses from their phones. They utilize hot spots instead of wired connections. The students respond to discussion forums anywhere and at any time. This allows the student to learn and interact at any time and any place. Who said students had to go to school between 9 AM and 4 PM?
What I was trying to say is that people have always been nomadic learners. No matter where one goes, one is learning.
However, there may be less nomadic learning now than in the past. There is a heavy use of mobile devices, but what are people learning? I posit that people are shutting out the world about them and withdrawing into their own worlds. Mobile interaction for most (I believe) people involves Facebook, texting, twitter, e-mail, and calling friends/family. Few people are reaching beyond this. Never has so much been said my so many about so little.
How many times do we see people with their ear glued to the phone or stumbling down a city side walk while they are texting (let alone driving)?
How many parents by their children any type of electronic device to keep them occupied in the car, rather than observing the world around them?
How many people go on vacation, yet remained glued to their phone?
In light of this perspective, the term Nomadic Learner seems lose its impact and meaning.
I have no peer-reviewed resources to support my supposition. I only have what I have observed.
Dr. Naomi,
Yes, the changes are not only with delivery but methods and processes. I think "blended" will become the norm for every class as online increases real time connections and on ground increases online connections. Good discussion.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
James,
My only issue is that I do not see how your points (good points) disproves the "label"...which is only there to identify the characteristics you have listed :)
Dr. Ruth Reynard
This generation of students' are referred to "nomadic" learners because of the flexibility of learning the course content not only in the class room, but at home, Internet Café's, a friend's computer, and/or libraries at anytime and anywhere. Nomadic students also connect with content via mobile devices, iPads, iPhones, laptops, etc. Therefore, they are always trying to connect with the content, solve the problem, and move on, which sometimes gets them into trouble because some students are tempted to just click, copy, paste, and then they are off to complete their next course assignment.
Furthermore, I have noticed this problem more pervasive with 'blended' students than the traditional 'online' student. I believe this to be true since online students are generally aware their work is automatically sent to an 'originality verification' dropbox, while some on-ground students may only turn in hard copies and not be aware of these devices. I actually had a 'blended' student this past term who thought I was creating the scores on her Turnitin report. In fact, I have had the most trouble with blended students adapting to the online environment, especially if they have been out of school for a long time. Thus, they are truly nomads when it comes to their 'life' spaces, because of the social networking ability.
This is one of the main reasons why I wanted to take this training course to find additional ways of communicating to my blended students, since I am always online. Maybe the on-ground teachers would benefit from this course as well. Any thoughts?
Take care...
Naomi
The "right" answer is that they use mobile technology.
I posit that this is just label with little substance.
My reasoning:
1. Learning is an innate human characteristic. Hence, people are constantly learning whether they are using mobile devices or not.
2. Most mobile use is not oriented towards formal learning. It is primarily social in nature.
3. Mobile communication is not new. It is only becoming more convient.
4. Mobile device use has a tendency to cut people off from their current existence in time and space and isolate them in their own world of social contact through cell, text, twitter, ect. sources.
Please take issue with this.
Because Claude Shannon's vision of all the world's information being available to everyone has come true. Students may quickly look up answers to questions or find information they need 24/7 from anywhere their device is able to link into the Internet.
Thomas,
Great idea! Yes, texting is immediate and correct and, therefore, saves a lot of time!
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Because they are no longer confined to a class work or even a computer but are comfortable with mobile technology. For example in my classes I give students my text number as many prefer asking questions by text messaging when they have questions instead of waiting until office hours/live session or something as slow as email. Today's students are used to the pace of a 24/7 world and seek the same in their online learning environment.
