1. Generational Differences and Learning Strategies
Oxnard College
May 26, 2009
Dr. Frank Benest
(650)

2. Overview Premises Three Different Generations
Defining Events and Traits
Key Teaching and Learning Issues
A Focus on the Oxnard College Student Population
6. Frank’s Suggested Practices
7. “One Idea That I Want To Try”
8. Resources and Questions

3. Premises Different generations exhibit different values and traits
The primary student population at Oxnard College share many of the values and traits of Gen Y but is also different
Understand the Gen Y population at the College can help us craft learning strategies and support services

4. Premises (con’t)
4. Learning strategies and support services tailored for the student population at the College can have a great impact on student success

5. Three Different Generations
Generation Born
Boomers
Gen X
Gen Y
(Millennials)
Numbers
80 million
46 million
76 million

6. Defining Events --Boomers--
Vietnam War ?

7. Defining Events --Gen X--
Divorce ?

8. Defining Events --Gen Y--
9/11 attacks ?

9. Boomers --Traits-- Institutions: deserve to change
Career path: job changing puts you behind
Feedback: once a year whether you need it or not
Communication: phone informal network
Rewards: money, title, recognition
Relationships: personal gratification

10. Boomers --Traits-- Idealistic Work first Driven, go extra mile
Competitive
Achievement-oriented
Questioning of authority
Optimistic
Willing to pay dues, tolerate poor management
Linear
Hierarchical
Single-task oriented
Good at jobs with long time horizons
Enjoy team work
Prefer consensual decision-making

11. Gen X --Traits-- Institutions: are suspect
Career path: job changing is necessary
Feedback: “so, how am I doing?”
Communication: internet research
Rewards: freedom!
Relationships: reluctant to commit

12. Gen X --Traits-- Work to live Family first Resourceful Self-reliant
Independent
Impatient
Adaptive to change, technology
Skeptical
Entrepreneurial
Independent
Despise structure and micro-managing
Critical thinkers
Want decision-making involvement
Informal

13. Millennials --Traits--
Institutions: judged on their own merits
Career path: career doesn’t have to be straight path
Feedback: from virtual coach with push of a button
Communication: IM a friend
Rewards: meaningful work
Relationships: inclusive

14. Millennials --Traits--
Realistic
Pragmatic
Cyber-literate
Media savvy
Environmentally conscious
Embrace diversity
Value guidance
Collaborative
Close to families
Parents are role models
Value guidance
Strong believe in value of education
Want structure
Globally conscious

15. From your experience, what are effective teaching and learning strategies that you have used with MIllennials?

16. Teaching and Learning Strategies for Millennials
1. Focus on experiential learning and interaction (and incorporate their talents and knowledge)
2. Encourage learning in teams
3. Provide structure
4. Give a lot of feedback
5. Use technology
6. Make it fun (movement, games, music, art)
7. Present big picture and context

17. Teaching and Learning Strategies
8. Be visual
9. Promote talking and action by students
10. Be clear and specific in instructions
11. Use minute attention spans

19. Oxnard College Student Population
How is primary student population at College similar to mainstream Gen Y population?
example: family oriented
How is primary student population at College different from mainstream Gen Y population?
example: poorer

20. What are key assets in helping our students succeed?
Family-oriented
Strong work ethic
Comfortable with technology and media
Respectful of education and teachers
Want to be successful

21. What are challenges? Students
a. Must work to support themselves and family
b. Poor study skills or tradition of studying
c. Don’t realize time and energy commitment to succeed

22. What are challenges?
Don’t have experience asking for support from teachers and counselors
Don’t know kind of support they need
Exhibit poor time management and focus

23. What are challenges? Community Colleges
a. Not sufficient focus on the first semester
b. Students learn too late that they are in academic trouble
c. Support systems are not always well coordinated
d. Scheduling is not ideal for students

24. Frank’s Suggestions
To enhance learning experience and promote success. . .
Focus on first semester success
Fine-tune scheduling
a. Time to go to class, study and get tutoring for 1-2 hrs, time to go to class, time to study

25. Frank’s Suggestions
Promote “school families,” especially during first year
a. Learning communities of 25
b. Take 2-3 Basic Skills classes together, especially in first semester
c. Emphasize team learning
d. Provide and coordinate instructional assistance inside and outside class
e. Integrate counseling support
f. Provide instruction in using web tools (for both students and faculty)

26. Frank’s Suggestions
Develop “early alert” system for those having academic problems
a. After mid-term is often too late
b. Use text or automated calls to cell phone (don’t use mail or )
c. Include instructional assistants in loop

27. “One Idea That I Want To Try”

28. Resources Julie Coates, Generational Learning Styles, 2007
Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman, When Generations Collide, 2002
William Strauss, Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation, 2002

29. Wrap Up One key learning? Perplexing issues? Questions? Thank You!