Educating the Net-
Generation
Dr. Bryan Carter
University of Central Missouri
bc7@mac.com
bcrx7 - AIM
hannibal697 - Yahoo
bc69@graffiti.net - MSN
bcmini753 - Skype

Generational Trends
Matures Baby Boomers Generation X Net Generation or Milennials -
1900 - 1946 1946 - 1960 1964 - 1982 1982
Descriptions: Descriptions: Descriptions: Descriptions:
The Greatest Generation The Me Generation The Latchkey Generation Milennials
Attributes: Attributes: Attributes: Attributes:
Command and Control Optimistic Independent Hopeful
Self sacrifice Workaholic Skeptical Determined
Likes: Likes: Likes: Likes:
Respect for authority Responsibility Freedom Public activism
Family Work Ethic Multitasking Latest technology
Community Involvement Can-do attitude Work-life balance Parents
Dislikes: Dislikes: Dislikes: Dislikes:
Waste Lazyness Red-Tape Anything slow
Technology Turning 50 Hype Negativity
Rita M. Murray, Personal Communication, 2004

The Mindset of
Today’s Student
List Generated by Beloit College, Class of 2010

The Soviet Union has never existed and therefore is
about as scary as the student union
They have known only three presidents, and one of them
is African American.
They are wireless, yet always connected.
"Google" has always been a verb.
Text messaging is their email, and email is for “old”
people.
Harry Potter could be a classmate, playing on their
Quidditch team.
They have always been able to watch wars and
revolutions live on television.
GPS satellite navigation systems have always been
available.
Electronic filing of tax returns has always been an option.
Digital cameras have always existed.
Caller ID has always been available on phones.
98.6 F or otherwise has always been confirmed in the ear.

The Millennials
Gravitate toward group activity
Identify with Parents’ values and feel close to their parents
Believe it’s cool to be smart/Hip Hop Generation celebrates
anti-intellectualism
Are fascinated with new technologies yet know little about
how they work
Are focused on grades and performance, the means to an end,
not necessarily for the sake of learning
Are busy with extracurricular activities
Have developed hypertext minds
Are intuitive visual communicators/digitally literate
Learn better through discovery than by being told

Millennial Impact on
Higher Education

Millennial Impact on
Higher Education
Connected
Immediate
Experiential
Immediate
Social/Teams
Structure
Engagement, Experience, Visual, Kinesthetic
Things that Matter

Connecting with our
Students
Understanding from where they are
coming
Communicating with them through
ways in which they are familiar
Establishing and maintaining a high
level of excitement and enthusiasm
about learning and course content
Innovation

Teaching and the Socio-
Cultural Disconnect
Is conventionality
always the best?
Teaching moments
come from the
strangest
inspirations

Communicating with
Our Students: To go
where few teachers have
gone before

Communicating Using the
Unfamiliar
Cloud Computing and Web 2.0 Applications
Broadcast Applications
Web 3.0 Applications

Collaborative Learning
ideal environments are a
combination of everything discussed
today
made up of cross-disciplinary
scholars
goal is to make cognitive links
between disciplines
addressing a variety of learning styles

Contact Me if You
Have Any Questions
Dr. Bryan Carter
bc7@mac.com
bcrx7 - AIM
hannibal697 - Yahoo Messenger
bc69@graffiti.net - MSN
bcmini753 - Skype
http://servicesinthecloud.blogspot.com/