1. Did you know? Millennials Boomers Matures Attended college 61% 46% ??
Married % % %
84% of millennials say having a meaningful impact on the world is more important than professional recognition or wealth
84% donated to a social cause in 2014
84% own a smart phone – and use it on average 45 times per day

2. Educating the Overly Informed Millennial Generation
Hawaii Strategy Institute March 5, 2016 Sally Pestana, Kapiolani Community College .

3. Session Goals Understand how generational differences are formed
Articulate the importance of recognizing generational differences in the classroom
Responding to the need for teaching skills addressing generational differences
Helping all students respect the differences among the generations

4. Largest living generation!!
The Generations
The Matures ( ) – Age 71+
The Baby Boomers ( ) – Age 51 to 70
The Gen Xers ( ) – Age 35 to 50
The Millennials ( ) – Age 15 to 34
Largest living generation!!

5. Generational Differences Influence:
Habits
Values
Attitudes
Behaviors
Expectations
Motivational buttons
Communication preferences

6. Matures (1920-1945) Duty, honor, country
Conformity, consistency, and commitment
Tom Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation”
Hard times and then prosperity
Save – then pay cash
Hardworking; doing a good job is most important
Education was a dream
Nuclear family
Matures, sometimes referred to as the “silents” in the literature were raised during the depression.
Commitment is a huge value for this generation. Think back to a grandparent or parent that worked in the same job for three, four or five decades. This generation is known for rarely leaving an employer on their own volition – most stayed with the same company their entire career.

7. Baby Boomers ( )
Raised in prosperity by depression era parents with significant impact
Raised to be independent and “go out and get a job”
Work ethic = Long hours / “workaholics”
Success defined by number of hours at the office
Competitive – only one winner
Education was a birthright
Buy now, pay later
Important to realize how matures impacted BB. Raised by depression and war era parents. They were taught to do what you need to do to gain financial security, thus avoiding the challenges their parents faced. BB raised to always save and work hard. Told to get a job that will leave an impact on society and has benefits.
BB Created the term workaholics. Millennial view – “Gosh, now I realize why my bosses are here all the time. They have no other life. Now I feel sorry for them. How sad.”
BB have few hobbies – too busy working. Some are taking on hobbies post retirement.
Did not receive much affection, and thus are not very demonstrative. Discipline was the rule.
There was only one winner.
First generation Americans tend to have more BB characteristics – regardless of their generation.
BB most direct influence on MILs

8. Gen Xers ( )
Had two working parents (often children of divorce) / “latch-key kids”
Saw parents laid off leading to distrust
Self reliant, independent, and resilient
Want their passion to be their profession
Technologically adept and flexible
Work ethic = “Measure me by my outcomes.”
Money is important but control of time is the goal
Save, save, save
Frustrated that “boomers” won’t turn over responsibility to them

9. Millennials ( )
Raised by boomers who used opposite child rearing practices as their depression era parents
Grew up in merged families, and/or had grandparents with strong influence
Protected - raised by “helicopter” parents
Participation generation - everybody gets a trophy
“Techno-kids” – taking multi-tasking to a new level

10. Millennials (Continued)
Work ethic = Get paid to get the job done, NOT to be in the office
Expect flexibility, fun, and meaningful work - with their first job
Optimistic, energetic, and demanding
Empowered and spontaneous
Enter job market confident of their own value
Family and friends come above their careers
Years of self-esteem building have given this generation the sense of being wanted and special.
BB told their children to find a job that makes you happy!
LOTS of feedback as contrasted with the BB philosophy of “no news is good news”.

11. Millennials (Continued)
Education is a huge expense
Earn to spend
Encouraged to “Find a job that makes you happy”
Work, think, and travel in groups
Value education, relationships, achievements, and diversity
Want and need constant and immediate feedback and will give the same

12. Generations of U.H. Faculty
(Contrasted with a large national engineering firm)
Matures (Age 71+) % (0%)
Baby Boomers (Age 51 to 70) % (15%)
Gen Xers (Age 35 to 50) % (31%)
Millennials (Age 15 to 34) % (54%)
*Depending on which report you read

13. Faculty’s Role
Be aware of stereotypes and understand how they shape other’s perceptions of you, and you of them!
Be prepared to teach millennials the importance of generational differences, as they will be working with some boomers and many Xers during their careers

14. In the classroom… Flexibility is critical
Use clear and straightforward language with everyone, but especially with millennials because millennials don’t respond to subtleties
Millennials grew up in an instantaneous world, with Google immediately answering their every question and helicopter parents at their beck and call – they bring those same expectations into the classroom

15. In the classroom….
Have career goals, positive attitudes, technological savvy, and collaborative inclinations
Value communication and information and respond well when told the “why” behind the teaching and assessment methods you use
View higher education as an expensive but economically necessary consumer good

16. In the classroom….
Higher education is not a privilege earned by hard work and outstanding performance
They (or their parents) "purchase" it for the purpose of opening well-paying occupational doors on graduation
Feel entitled to their degree for the cost of the credits
Those whose grades slip in college feel their self-esteem threatened and may react with depression, anxiety, defensiveness, and even anger against us. In addition, they hear a lot a "bad news" from us in their classes: that they didn't learn enough in high school to handle college, that knowledge bases are full of holes and unsolved mysteries, that their beliefs and values are subject to question and debate, and that both college and the real world demand that they work and prove their worth.

17. In the classroom….
Want to know that you care about them -- “They will care how much you know, when they know how much you care”.
Accustomed to near-constant interaction, and want to relate to you
Used to having clear expectations set
Respond well to structure, discipline, rules, and regulations

18. Golden Rule vs. Platinum Rule
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Communicate with others using their preferred method of communication.
Rotary phones
Touch tone phones
Cell phones
Texting

19. Communication Needs
Boomers communicated with family and friends via snail mail and long distance phone
Millennials prefer to communicate by text message or -- they don't expect to have to talk
Or write formally
Lots of room for teaching and growth

20. Messages that Motivate
“Your experience is respected” – satisfaction comes from a job well done
“You are valued and needed” – satisfaction comes from money and title recognition
“Do it your way – forget the rules” – satisfaction comes from freedom
“You will work with other bright, creative people” – satisfaction comes from constant feedback and doing meaningful work

21. Work Ethic Duty before fun
Workaholic – works efficiently, quality important, not afraid to question authority
Eliminate the task! Desires structure and direction, but skeptical
What’s next?! Goal oriented, multi-tasker

22. You are leap years ahead!
Closing Thoughts
You are leap years ahead!
So much more to know!!
Share one thing that you heard in the last hour that gave you an aha moment with your nieighbor. It might be something related directly to your classroom, or perhaps something that explains your parent, or your child.