Presenting to the Melinium Generation
Rather than make a comment I would like to ask a question I hope will help me. I teach and lecture young adults mostly from the millennium generation on an almost daily basis and I've noticed a change. My colleagues and I have noticed a lack of investment when lecturing to this generation compared to other generations we've seen, they seem preoccupied. After lecturing I'm constantly asking myself if I'm getting through to this generation of young people. I use a lot of the techniques used in this course such as using a hook to get their attention, I define my purpose, I make sure they understand the value of my topic and I give a brief overview of the lecture. I also get them involved by asking questions and getting them to comment but most of the time its like pulling teeth. After working through the course I believe for the most part I'm doing what the course suggests and I realize there is always room for improvement which I'm constantly working on.
With that said my question is this. Is it harder or different to present to the ME generation compared to other generations? If it is more difficult is there anything I can do to help get them more invested or involved that would be specific to this generation? Also, do you know of any research or articles on this generation that could be of help?
Thank you,
Val
Val,
yes, it is harder with this generation. Much of this is believed to be due to the technology & the rapid pace of information, making it harder for the Gen Y learner to pay attention for longer periods. There is a MK course, ED117 pertaining directly to this topic.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
After going through this course and reading your reply I remembered reading 75% of us get more out of visuals. I'm now looking into how I can incorporate more visuals into my presentations to capture more of their attention.
Thank you Dr. Meers...
Val,
this is a great idea & remember, you don't have to rely on old power point, there are many ways to incorporate visuals.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I find it interesting to teach this generation. I use popular media and other soureces of technology in the classroom and lots of interaction to keep attention asking questions and providing information during the teachable moments that happen as a result of this interaction.
Yes, they are a difficult group to keep engaged. I am looking for ways to engage them thru the use of their cellphone. Please share any methods or apps that can be used to present/interact with Gen Y students.
LeWando,
I think use of cellphones is a great way to engage students. I know on our campus we try to make it applicable to everyday use for them. For example our students do an off campus internship for which they need to turn in timesheets each week. In our presentation on their internship we have each student practice take clear pictures of sample timesheets and sending it to their instructor. It seems small, but that little bit of engagement with the presenter and with their technology is helpful.
Maybe you have something similar you could engage your students with?
Val,
Thank you for your question. I agree the ME generation is wrapped around technology. They also have a very short attention span.
I engage my classes by asking them how to use their phones or computers to assist me in teaching them. They are often more aware of apps and technology than I am. It creates an environment that allows us to learn from each other.
Ahmad,
and this is a great way to engage them as they are excited that you want to learn from them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think the input of Gen Y students is great because they are adult learners who have some control over their learning environment which results in effective teaching moments. I present with power point yet try and engage students in discussion with questions, individual and group activities and usually have teams present their ideas.
Annette,
I like this approach as it balances the technology with the interaction.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
This is a good idea. It's amazing how learners have evolved over the last twenty to thirty years. I believe the Gen Y students are a group of doers and shakers. They tend to do better with interactive learning.
Karla,
yes, interactive presentations are a great way to connect with audiences, especially younger ones.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I find one of my biggest obstacles in presenting to the "Melinium Generation" is my own "lack of Knowledge and expertise" when it comes to utilizing some of this new technology. So I have made it my goal to try to "conquer and embrace" the new technology and have it as a my "friend" rather than my foe.
This being said, I will often "make light of" my own lack of knowledge or expertise. I will tell them how when I was their age, it was calculators and computers that were "on the cutting edge". (I tell them that that was in the "dinosaur ages") I followup with a statement to the effect that I swore that I would never be like my parents who "couldn't/wouldn't/didn't care to" "keep up with the times". Low and behold, I am now "my parents" except that I am willing to try to learn all of this "new stuff".
I will often throw in lines like "I see my daughers running their fingers across the screen on their cellphones"... and I am amazed because "I can't even go from screen to screen using a cursor and I don't want to even try to imagine how the screens would be "whizzing by" if I were to try to "do the touch-screen thing". The comment will usually draw a laugh because many of them know of parent's or grandparents who are in the same boat that I am in.
I'll even pull out an old flip-phone and tell them that this is the reason why I have to go to a computer to access the web.
I also tell them that if anyone would like to help me with my technology "issues", I would welcome their assistance as I prepare my lessons and presentations.
What I have found is that many of the student's become more attentive and involved... not so much because of the material that I am presenting but because they want to see if they can help me to "spice" up my presentations a bit with new technology.
While I do get a few "You know what you should do"s.... and I usually don't fully grasp everything that I am being told ... I also have students who have volunteered to help me on the technology for my presentations. I think that it makes them feel "important" because they are able to help this "technology-dummy" out.
Next what will often happen, is that a different student will want to work with me in order to try to outdo what another has done technology-wise. All of a sudden, I seem to have a group of students with whom I have developed a good rapport; and who are learning more the material by helping me; than they would have if they sat in class bored.
I don't know if it's all the "video" games or a need for "instant gratificatiion" that has impacted the ways/ambitions of/for learning for the new generation. But I have found that enlisitng student's to help me make my information "more in tune" to the times has really helped. I have had Powerpoint presentations that looked like video games with all of the animations that students helped to add in so as to make the material/learning method more "relevant" to this generation.
I apologize for my very long answer. I guess it just comes down to "making the honest connection of "lower" (me) to "higher" (the student) technology knowledge; instead of the vice-versa that they are so used to seeing/feeling.
It is definitely more difficult to present to millennials. They are more likely to text than speak to someone on the phone. They are likely to believe what they find on a Google search rather than what could be derived from solid research. I teach and lecture to millennials and usually try to make Powerpoint presentations that are devoid of text elements. The best plan is to know your material, maybe use PPT notes, and have something ready to say about each slide or visual. It is sad to say, but sometimes I have to admonish them to put away all cellphones and put to "sleep" computer screens before I give a talk.
Presenting to this generation posses some unique challenges. What I have started to do in order to capture their attention is develop presentations in 3 dimensional format, instead of the 2 format of PowerPoint. I use interactive videos or some sort of gamming format to capture their attention. It seems they like the ability to see someone doing the action or talking them through the process. I think this is too much of a fail safe method. It does not allow them to develop imaginative skills.. just my 2 cents..
It seems like you have all the resource needed to have a great leaning environment, but the way that you are applying the material seems more instructor centered than student centered. I think rather than you doing all the lecturing, the ME generation catches on a lot quicker and don't need as much lecturing. I would give them the mean points and let them be more self learned, and I would in corporate more group activities.
