Millennials for MCAE 2009

MCAE 2009 Barry Dahl Lake Superior College

Finding my Stuff

Who are these people? And what do they want from me?

Generations A Quick Review (hint: jump to Prezi here )

Digital Natives

What’s in a Name?

Net Generation

Next Generation

Nexters

Texters

Generation Y

Generation Why

Millennials

Generation Now

iGeneration

Echo Boomers

Google
Generation

Nintendo
Generation

Trophy
Generation

Screenagers

That’s Crazy talk.
Let’s consolidate.

Digital
Net-Gennials

Pro Debater Credo: I believe everything I read about how the Millennials are so different from the rest of us

Con Debater Credo: I am skeptical of everything I read about how the Millennials are so different from the rest of us

The Bible
Howe and Strauss (2000) demonstrate that the children of boomers and of older members of Generation X are actually harder workers and better community builders than any generation since the G.I. Generation (born 1901-1924)

B.S.
These guys have no idea what they’re talking about. Most of the book is pure speculation and an effort to find results that match their own predictions in a previous book where they wrote about what they thought this generation would be.

About Those Digital Net-Gens
Are students of today technologically competent, or just confident?
Having no fear is not the same as having knowledge or skill.

Generations

From the Gurus, Strauss and Howe
"They will rebel against the culture by cleaning it up, rebel against political cynicism by touting trust, rebel against individualism by stressing teamwork, rebel against adult pessimism by being upbeat, and rebel against social ennui by actually going out and getting a few things done.“ (2000)

Not so Fast, Bucko!
The technology that was supposed to make young adults more astute, diversify their tastes, and improve their minds had the opposite effect.

The Millennials are Here!
“ We need to figure out how they learn and change the education model so that it works for them.”

Poppycock!!
“ We get to mold the way they learn to ensure that they have a productive, worthwhile future.

We Must Start Using Their Tools
If all the students use Second Life – we should teach in Second Life.
If all the students use Facebook – we should figure out how to teach with Facebook.
If all the students are texting, we should send them text messages.

WRONG! Avoid the Creepy Treehouse
n. A place, physical or virtual (e.g. online), built by adults with the intention of luring in kids.
n. Any institutionally-created, operated, or controlled environment in which participants are lured in either by mimicking pre-existing open or naturally formed environments, or by force, through a system of punishments or rewards.
CC Photo by Chris Shiflett http://flexknowlogy.learningfield.org

Digital Natives
It is now clear that as a result of this ubiquitous information environment and the sheer volume of their interaction with it, today’s students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors. Marc Prensky – “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants” 2001

That I’m a digital immigrant.
That a 14-yr old kid can speak digital better than I can.
That it is productive to split all technology users into two camps pitted against one another, when learning about technology together should be a TEACHABLE MOMENT.
Things I Don’t Believe

Seven Core Traits
As identified by Howe & Strauss in Millennials Go to College:
Special
Sheltered
Confident
Team-Oriented
Conventional
Pressured
Achieving

Confident, Assertive, Entitled
Today’s young Americans are more miserable than ever before.
“ You can be anything you want to be” is a bunch of hooey.

What They Know that We Don’t
The Web has won.
Learning communities have no boundaries.
Educators need to focus more on how to improve rather than restrict student access to the Internet.
Rod Carmichael and Blake Bourque, Maine high school students (keynote)

An Alternate View
We were smarter than they are at the same age.
As screenagers, they’re addicted to the Internet, have no real social skills, and they don’t take time for outdoor or physical activities.
Their parents run their lives, thus they are adrift in the world with no purpose or direction (path).
They’re criminals. They steal by downloading music, violate intellectual property rights, and think they should be able to “share” anything that they want to.

An Alternate View (cont.)
They haven’t learned the value of a good work ethic and will be disloyal and slacker employees.
They are the narcissistic “me” generation.
They have no shame.
They think online bullying is fun.
Their games are violent, and so are they.
They seriously just don’t give a damn.

Clicker Time Practice Question Famous Quotes from Famous People

Famous Quotes #1
George Washington once said (re: the cherry tree incident):
“ I can't tell a lie, Pa; you know I can't tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet.”
(Or did he?)

Famous Quotes #2
Al Gore once said:
“ I invented the Internet.” or “I created the Internet.”
(Or did he?)

Famous Quotes #3
George W. Bush once said:
“ Too many OB-GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.”
(Or did he?)

They have very few technology skills that we expect them to use in higher education. Whose problem is that?

Pull out your cell phones. Send short text message to 41411 Poll Everywhere

Which is closer to your general opinion of cell phones?
They suck! They are a nuisance and should all be sucked into a black hole in the universe.
They rock! They are powerful devices that can be used in many positive ways.
Choices:

Schools suck the creativity out of our children.
Reality
Myth
? Didn’t have time for This one.

Higher education could learn a lot from FaceBook.
Reality
Myth
? Didn’t have time for This one.

Select each item that is true about your teaching.
Primarily traditional lecture-style
Reduced lecture – more active
You’ve taught online courses
You’ve taught hybrid courses
Increased use of group work
None of the above

Which of these books have you read?
Cluetrain Manifesto (several)
Future of the Internet (Zittrain)
Wealth of Networks (Benkler)
The Future of Ideas (Lessig)
Free Culture (Lessig)
Small Pieces Loosely Joined (DW)
None of the above

Barry Dahl Lake Superior College barrydahl.com desire2blog.blogspot.com E-mail: [email_address]

Millennials for MCAE 2009

by Barry Dahl on Apr 25, 2009

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Millennials for MCAE 2009 — Presentation Transcript