The document discusses the millennial generation's unique characteristics shaped by technology, highlighting their proficiency with digital communication and distinct learning styles. It outlines educational challenges faced by millennials, such as high dropout rates and underpreparedness, as well as their preference for interactive and experiential learning. Strategies for engaging millennial students include incorporating technology in teaching, using collaborative activities, and adopting new pedagogical approaches to cater to their needs.

1. Teaching the Millennial Generation: Techno SavvyJosh Murdock (Millennial)Valencia Community College

2. Our Millennial Futurehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogVTkB_4aOs2

3. The Millennial GenerationThe Millennial Generation has emerged as a force that will shape the social and economic dynamics of the next decade (Howe & Strauss, 2000).The definition of when millennials were born varies, with estimates ranging from 1977 (Tapscott, 1998) to 1982 (Howe & Strauss, 2000).Researchers agree that the uniqueness of millennials results from technological forces that have affected this generation.Unique millennial competency is the ability to effectively use broadly networked digital communication technologies to quickly and seamlessly accomplish a variety of tasks.This competency has resulted from their experiences with Internet communities (Gorman, Nelson, & Glassman, 2004).3

4. Millennial Students CharacteristicsWhat do you believe are the characteristics of a millennial? Relatively ShelteredGrew up among “kid safety rules”: school lockdowns, national youth safety movementsMore conventional than Gen-XersHigh level confidence / self importanceTeam OrientedClose with ParentsTechnology Savvy 4

5. How they “Tick”Exposed to vast amounts of information at a very young ageDifferent patterns of communications and social intimacyAmbitious, but with unrealistic expectationsWell aware of rules, but enjoy the challenge of circumventing the rules5

6. Millennial Students6Have never known a life withoutcomputers and the InternetConsider computers a part of life

7. Connect to information

8. Communicate in real-time

9. Have social networking

10. Have been raised in the presence of video and computer games

11. Students in their 20s may have had more experience with games than with reading (Oblinger,2004).These experiences helped to form the way in which millennials seek, process, and report information.

12. 7Individuals raised with computers deal with information differently compared to previous cohorts: “They develop hypertext minds, they leap around.” (Prensky, 2001)

13. 8

14. 9These learning styles originated withmillennials growing up with technologymillennials were born around the time the PC was introduced

15. 20 percent of the students began using computers between the ages of 5 and 8

16. and almost all millennials were using computers by the time they were 16 to 18 years of age (Jones, 2002). Characteristics of the MillennialsStudents of the Millennial Generation are accustomedto using keyboards rather than pens or pencils to write notes and papersto reading information from computer screens or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) rather than from printed textsto being connected with friends in social networking computer sites rather than in physical meeting places on college campuses, and are used to multitasking in digital environments They areinterested in group activitiesintuitive visual communicators 10

17. Characteristics of the Millennials…Millennialslearn better through discovery and experiential learning rather than by being toldhave the ability to shift their attention rapidly from one task to another and may choose not to pay attention to things that don’t interest them — attentional deploymentbelieve multitasking is a way of life and are comfortable when engaged in multiple activities simultaneouslybelieve staying connected is essential and they want a fast response time(Howe & Strauss, 2000)11

18. Educational IssuesDiversity of needs, backgrounds, and experiencesHigh Drop-out and failure rates (average 3 out of 10)Poor class participationTypically under preparedDifficulties relating to authority figures using traditional communication techniques 12

19. They are worth the troubleViolent Crime is down 60-70%Teen pregnancy is downEngaged in community serviceTolerant – welcome everyone as part of the community13

20. Techno SavvyTechnology is the keyStudents are “digital natives”Use of technology is inherent, no matter what their interestsFor other generations, use of technology is foreign (in general)To deny the applications of technology in reaching Millennials may be a mistake14

21. ENGAGING THE MILLENNIALSMillennialslearn at a fast pace that does not involve a “telling style”/ “text-oriented” style of teachinglike visual examples, less text, and less tellingwant interactivityOur challenge is to introduce new learning and teaching approaches to engage the millennial students. 15

22. A Vision of K-12 Students Todayhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf816

23. Don’t forget: You can copy-paste this slide into other presentations, and move or resize the poll.

24. ENGAGING THE MILLENNIALSNow being introduced into the Blackboard/WebCT environment are programs such as Wimba and ElluminatePermit the integration of different technologies such as synchronized chat, use of Whiteboard, online text messaging, and display of PowerPoints with voice accompaniment Other innovative practices that are being implemented includeuser-created contentsocial networking virtual worlds and avatar creation use of mobile phones for course content deliveryand multiplayer educational gaming.18

25. YouTube19http://www.youtube.com/Hosted by Google and EASY to useAllows uploading of videos of limited length by registered users (Free)Vast resources of videos from legitimate news & archive resourcesSearchable by topic, subject matter, and content

26. Facebook: Oh No…….20www.facebook.comSocial networking siteGames – educational games availableAnother way to stay in touch and connect with studentsAnother way to remind students about upcoming events and activities Variety of Privacy Settingshttp://www.facebook.com/joshmurdock

27. Facebook: Educational UsesAllows for easy communications among classmates, the way they like to communicateAllows classmates to get to know one another on a social level outside of classCan be used to broadcast messages to students about upcoming activities/assignments in a place where they are always looking 21

28. MySpace: Are you for real? 22www.myspace.com Social Networking ToolsMyspace.comBlocked by public libraries (it’s the law) Many colleges & schools block this website with a firewall – Why?Student spend a lot of time thereSexual predators & other negative characters

29. Wikipedia23www.wikipedia.orgFree encyclopedia that anyone can editOver 10 million articles in 250 languagesOver 2.5 million articles in EnglishWritten by “consensus” and constantly being edited

30. Blogging Software 24Allows creation of “closed” or “open” forum settingsTemplate driven & minimal tech knowledge neededAllows monitoring of commentary before “posting”Hosts web links and podcast linkswww.blogger.com

31. Educational Uses of Blogs 25Forum for students, faculty to display and share ideas and invite commentary by designated contributors or the publicProject sharing/showcasing space to seek and allow feedback by participantsPlatform to disseminate content materialPersonal / professional portfolios

32. twitter 26CollaborationReach a larger audienceShare ideasInspireStay updatedCommunicateNetworkhttp://twitter.com/professorjoshhttp://twitter.com

33. Second Life – Virtual Education27Multi-user Virtual EnvironmentAvatar based – you create a character for yourselfMany educational locationsWarning - many seedy locationsModel Examples: Art, Theater, MuseumsDelivery of web-based courses synchronous http://www.valenciacc.edu/ltad/secondlife/http://secondlife.comhttp://teen.secondlife.com

34. ENGAGING THE MILLENNIALSThe textbook industry recognizes the millennial students’ ability to be interactive to work in group activitiesto multi-taskand access information in an expedient manner from faculty as well as other group members—and the publishers are providing technological tools for teachers to incorporate into their pedagogy to engage the millennial learner. 28