Techniques October 2012 - 17

Today’s Students—Part 2

yrutneC- s12 t
By Virginia R. Jones
he Millennial Generation is a subject of paramount interest for 21st-century educators. It is a generation unlike its predecessors, with some stating it is the most intelligent consumer generation in history. Experts in the fields of neurobiology and psychology have found that Millennial brains may actually be “physically different” because of the bombardment of digital input received from birth.1 Additionally, this generation is the most protected in history, indulged and consulted by their families on important family decisions. They rebel against the traditional styles of previous generations, and they demand technology-rich learning with supportive feedback to assist them on their learning pathway.

21st -Century
T
often familiar with technologies but are still hesitant to push the technologies to the limits in their classrooms. As Prensky 2 stated, “Our Digital Immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language (that of the pre-digital age), are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language.” Today’s classroom must bridge the gap between the digital immigrants’ hesitancy toward technology and instead must lock into the Millennial learners’ connection and exposure to all facets of technology. Today’s educator must embrace learning with technology and not from technology. Learners want to do the content, not just learn it! Integrating the technology-rich outside world with the education world is fundamental for a seamless integration of pedagogy and technology.

Learners
Today’s educator must embrace learning with technology and not from technology. Learners want to do the content, not just learn it!

A New Language
With this desire for all things technological, how does our traditional educational setting engage, excite and promote learning for these students? Most of today’s educators are non-digital natives, so-called digital immigrants, who are
www.acteonline.org

Millenial Learners Deconstructed
Aggressively protective parents in childcentered households raise our Millennial learners. These children live in economic prosperity, are optimistic about the future and are the most protected generation,

as supported by increased government consumer-safety mandates. This generation has more distinct demographic characteristics than previous generations, including permissive views of people different from themselves, distinct political and social values and firm attitudes about social justice. Females are the predominant gender of the Millennial Generation, shown by 57 percent female enrollment in postsecondary educational settings.3
October 2012

Techniques

Techniques October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Techniques October 2012