Presentation on Generations and differences .ppt

Generation difference

1. Generational Differences
and Learning Strategies
Oxnard College
May 26, 2009
Dr. Frank Benest
[phone]
[email protected]

2. Overview
1.Premises
2.Three Different Generations
3.Defining Events and Traits
4.Key Teaching and Learning Issues
5.A Focus on the Oxnard College Student
Population
6. Frank’s Suggested Practices
7. “One Idea That I Want To Try”
8. Resources and Questions

3. Premises
1.Different generations exhibit different
values and traits
2.The primary student population at
Oxnard College share many of the
values and traits of Gen Y but is also
different
3.Understand the Gen Y population at the
College can help us craft learning
strategies and support services

4. Premises
(con’t)
4. Learning strategies and support services
tailored for the student population at the
College can have a great impact on
student success

5. Three Different Generations
Generation Born
Boomers 1946-64
Gen X 1965-81
Gen Y 1982-2000
(Millennials)
Numbers
80 million
46 million
76 million

6. Defining Events
--Boomers--
1.Vietnam War
2.?
3.?
4.?

7. Defining Events
--Gen X--
1.Divorce
2.?
3.?
4.?

8. Defining Events
--Gen Y--
1.9/11 attacks
2.?
3.?
4.?

9. Boomers
--Traits--
Institutions: deserve to
change
Career path: job changing
puts you behind
Feedback: once a year
whether you need it or
not
Communication: phone
informal network
Rewards: money, title,
recognition
Relationships: personal
gratification

10. Boomers
--Traits--
Idealistic
Work first
Driven, go extra mile
Competitive
Achievement-oriented
Questioning of authority
Optimistic
Willing to pay dues,
tolerate poor
management
Linear
Hierarchical
Single-task oriented
Good at jobs with long
time horizons
Enjoy team work
Prefer consensual
decision-making

11. Gen X
--Traits--
Institutions: are suspect
Career path: job
changing is necessary
Feedback: “so, how am I
doing?”
Communication: internet
research
Rewards: freedom!
Relationships: reluctant
to commit

12. Gen X
--Traits--
Work to live
Family first
Resourceful
Self-reliant
Independent
Impatient
Adaptive to change,
technology
Skeptical
Entrepreneurial
Independent
Despise structure and
micro-managing
Critical thinkers
Want decision-making
involvement
Informal

13. Millennials
--Traits--
Institutions: judged on their
own merits
Career path: career doesn’t
have to be straight path
Feedback: from virtual
coach with push of a
button
Communication: IM a friend
Rewards: meaningful work
Relationships: inclusive

14. Millennials
--Traits--
Realistic
Pragmatic
Cyber-literate
Media savvy
Environmentally
conscious
Embrace diversity
Value guidance
Collaborative
Close to families
Parents are role
models
Value guidance
Strong believe in
value of education
Want structure
Globally conscious

15. From your experience, what are
effective teaching and learning
strategies that you have used
with MIllennials?

16. Teaching and Learning
Strategies for Millennials
1. Focus on experiential
learning and interaction
(and incorporate their
talents and knowledge)
2. Encourage learning in
teams
3. Provide structure
4. Give a lot of feedback
5. Use technology
6. Make it fun (movement,
games, music, art)
7. Present big picture and
context

17. Teaching and Learning
Strategies
8. Be visual
9. Promote talking
and action by
students
10. Be clear and
specific in
instructions
11. Use 15-20
minute attention
spans

19. Oxnard College Student
Population
1.How is primary student population at
College similar to mainstream Gen Y
population?
example: family oriented
2.How is primary student population at
College different from mainstream Gen Y
population?
example: poorer

20. What are key assets in helping
our students succeed?
1.Family-oriented
2.Strong work ethic
3.Comfortable with
technology and
media
4.Respectful of
education and
teachers
5.Want to be
successful

21. What are challenges?
1.Students
a. Must work to
support themselves and
family
b. Poor study skills or
tradition of studying
c. Don’t realize time
and energy
commitment to succeed

22. What are challenges?
d.Don’t have
experience asking
for support from
teachers and
counselors
e.Don’t know kind of
support they need
f.Exhibit poor time
management and
focus

23. What are challenges?
2.Community Colleges
a. Not sufficient focus on the first
semester
b. Students learn too late that they are in
academic trouble
c. Support systems are not always well
coordinated
d. Scheduling is not ideal for students

24. Frank’s Suggestions
To enhance learning experience and
promote success. . .
1.Focus on first semester success
2.Fine-tune scheduling
a.Time to go to class, study and get tutoring for 1-2
hrs, time to go to class, time to study

25. Frank’s Suggestions
3.Promote “school families,” especially
during first year
a. Learning communities of 25
b. Take 2-3 Basic Skills classes together, especially in
first semester
c. Emphasize team learning
d. Provide and coordinate instructional assistance
inside and outside class
e. Integrate counseling support
f. Provide instruction in using web tools (for both
students and faculty)

26. Frank’s Suggestions
4.Develop “early alert” system for those
having academic problems
a. After mid-term is often too late
b. Use text or automated calls to cell phone (don’t use
mail or email)
c. Include instructional assistants in loop

27. “One Idea That I Want To Try”

28. Resources
Julie Coates, Generational Learning Styles,
2007
Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman, When
Generations Collide, 2002
William Strauss, Millennials Rising: The Next
Great Generation, 2002

29. Wrap Up
One key learning?
Perplexing issues?
Questions?
Thank You!
www.frankbenest.com