Robert,
It's like getting ready to do a speech to an audience and you do an audience analysis. Your students are your audience. Getting to know them is important. Thanks for your input.
Jennifer,
Students learn so much from each other. I like to call my classroom a community of learners because I'm not the only one they will learn from. The skills you discuss are essential for all students. Thanks for your input.
Overall, I have a nice mix of generations in my classes. These groups can benefit by working together and learning from each other, but don't always understand each other. As an instructor, each group is motivated differently and learns differently. Some are better at communicating, while others are more hands on. Getting each group to move into unknown territories is the challenge and they fear it. However, they will all need the same skills to succeed in the class: self- discipline & time management, decent technology skills, and critical thinking skills and communicating them.
Understanding these generations can help the instructor deal with their own frustrations when dealing with these various groups. Coming from Gen X, I get frustrated with Gen Y more often than any other group, however knowing their pros/cons can help me better teach them, as well as state my expectations of them. Baby Boomers sometimes have issues with younger instructors as well, but overall are very motivated when learning as it is a new phase in their career or career change.
Diane,
You are right - as a Baby Boomer - of course I agree. Ha! Understanding our audience, our students, is so important in developing good communication and providing content to students in a variety of ways. This comes many times from that generational understanding. Thanks for your input.
Diane,
Being a newcomer to the educational arena, you bring fresh input from another point of view. This is valuable. Keep motivating the students to communicate and work together and serve as a good role model in your teaching. Thanks for your input.
As a "baby boomer" I understand the importance of recognizing "Generation Identity". We are the largest generation in today's workplace and technology comes more of a challenge day by day. The millennials find this new technology part of everyday activities. They were born with a "computer" in hand and can navigate most programs. Baby boomers on the other hand spend hours trying to apply this new technology. I feel I have an advantage over "millennials and GenerationX" because if all this technology were taken away "Baby Boomers" would find a way to get it done by other means and the others would be totally confused without their electronics.
Being in the "Baby Boomer" category I understand how important it is to structure course material to meet all generations. As a new comer to the educational arena so much is to be learned as to how to communicate so all will benefit. It can be very frustrating as an instructor and can imagine how frustrating it can be for students. Talking with other educators in my department helps me understand other ways of communicating to all students. The hardest I feel are the "Generation X" who prefer to work alone. They are hard to get involved in group projects and will always have an excuse as to why they can't meet the group meeting.
Cindy,
You are right. And, it's not just the understanding the generations, but understanding your specific students in general. Your students are you audience and whenever we do an audience analysis, we understand them better and understand how to more effectively provide content in a way that will help then understand it. Thanks for your input.
By understanding the generations the instructor can get an insight into their technology understanding as well as the way they may interact with their classmates.
Cindy,
Having students introduce themselves serves many purposes. They begin to develop a community among themseleves and find commonalities. This not only helps you, but helps the students as well. Nice job.
Faryl,
Although not all individuals in a particular generation will act or be alike, knowing the differences between generations is helpful. It's a matter of knowing your audience. We do need to be able to work with everyone and respect their differences. Thanks for your input.
In my online classes I always ask the students to post an introduction about themselves. Who they are, what they are majoring in, where they might live, family, hobbies, etc. This usually gives me a good clue as to their age and communication levels.
It is important to realize the role of generations because school is now accessible to everyone regardless of their age or digital abilities. Very often people are novice's with computers but choose to further their education by taking online courses. We need to be able to work with students where they are, not where we think they should be.
It is important to understand the role generations play in communications within the online community so that you (as the instructor) can better understand WHY you are receiving the type of communication you are seeing.
For example, when I see a discussion post, email or written assignment using "txt tlk" I know I am dealing with a Gen Y student and I need to address the spelling, grammar and other technical aspects of their writing and remind them that this type of writing will generally not be accepted on the job when they start working in their field.
As another example, when I see writing that may ramble or go off topic and lacks strong APA citation, I may assume I am dealing with a Baby Boomer (they often tell me they've never heard of APA or didn't have to deal with it in school). I can work with them on staying focused on answering the question and give them some information and examples of APA formatting.
Mainly, it also helps me communicate my understanding of WHY their writing has its shortcomings and be firm but gentle in dealing with them on making corrections so they are willing to keep improving and not get frustrated and want to quit.
Dalene & Nicole,
Thanks for keeping the conversation going. . .and on a light note. ;-) Interesting how you identify the age of the student by their communication. They need to be aware of this when they go to apply for jobs, etc. Thanks for your input.
Dalene,
Although not all people in a certain generation are exactly alike (i.e., I'm a boomer that loves technology), it is important to understand that everyone is different. As students learn from each other they begin to identify difference and respect those differences. I like that you have students read other student's bios and beging to interact and understand others. This helps build community in your class. Thanks again!
You are so funny, Nicole! But absolutely right - you can tell who is who by the way they communicate in the online forums.
I find that my Master's level students have less challenges in the online forums than my certificate and associate degree students - I usually can tell right away if I have younger students in my Master's classes. Text-speak is usually the challenge with Generation Y - and sometimes, they do text speak without even thinking about it. I have to remind them when they turn in papers and discussion posts....wow....
This is so very important! Learners today, as highlighted in the course content, are not the traditional post-secondary learners of long ago. I have found that a majority of my students are in their 50's and 60's, even in the 70's ! They are quick to let me know that they have never taken courses online, and I am very attuned to that individual.
I always require a bio from my students so I can get a "feel" for who they are, where and what they come from, and a feel for their background. From this, I usually have a general idea of who the student is, even their age. Knowing about generational social skill sets, I have an advantage from careful review of bios how to communicate with them, and how to counsel them, if needed, on communication in the online environment. I encourage all my students to read their classmate's bios, so they too can get a snapshot of who else is taking the class with them, and start to pay attention to any generational communication gaps that may prove subsequent in the online forums.
If ever there is a sticky situation that develops with a student or if we experience communication issues, I can always refer to the bio to refresh myself on who that student is, and formulate assistance for him/her.
Victoria,
Knowing your students and your students understanding what is expected of them are essential. As each student is different, you can learn from them as well. And, I encourage peer interaction as well and call my class a Community of Learners because we all learn from each other. Communication is the key. Thanks for your input.
