Reaching Today’s Digital Students

Digital Students: Who They Are and How They Learn Today’s students are different from students 15 years ago. They learn differently, and as a result feel disconnected from schools that were designed from another time. This generation takes in and responds to rapidly transmitted sights and sounds whether on television, computers, or video games. They are hypercommunicators – cell phones, PDAs, , the Internet, instant messaging. They are multitaskers. They see no problem watching T.V., browsing the Internet, listening to music, and communicating with their friends at the same time.

What is a “generation”? “A society-wide peer group, born over a period of roughly the same length as the passage from youth to adulthood (20 – 21 years), who collectively possess a common persona.”

Who Are They? GenerationBirth YearsManWoman Lost Dwight EisenhowerMae West G.I John F. KennedyAnn Landers Silent Colin PowellGloria Steinem Baby Boomers Steven SpielbergOprah Winfrey X Michael JordanJodie Foster Millennial1982-?

Each Generation Has Its Themes MatureBoomersXMillennials Hard WorkPersonal Fulfillment Uncertainty“What’s Next?” DutyOptimismPersonal FocusOn My Terms SacrificeCrusading CausesLive For TodayJust Show Up ThriftinessBuy Now, Pay Later Save, Save, SaveEarn to Spend Work FastWork EfficientlyEliminate the TaskDo Exactly What’s Asked

From the Lone Ranger, to a Pierced Stranger: The Growing Generational Gap College students today were born after In their lifetime AIDS has always existed. The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as WWI, WWII, or even the Civil War. The New Kids on the Block are over the hill. Bert and Ernie are old enough to be their parents. “Coming out” parties celebrate more than debutantes. A “45” is a gun, not a record with a large hole in the center. Yugoslavia has never existed. Yuppies are as old as hippies.

Other Characteristics Computers have always fit in their backpacks. “Spam” and “cookies” are not necessarily foods. “Ctrl + Alt + Del” is as basic as “ABC”. “Society’s emphasis on convenience has empowered them to look for the easiest way out in many circumstances.” They have learned how to “work the system.” “They are used to working in the distractions of an overcomplicated world…Technology guides their every more, and they are stimulation junkies.”

How to Reach Them The Internet Blogs Digital images Digital videos Webcasts Video Conferencing Webquests Computer games On-line classes Podcasts Instant Messaging PowerPoint Presentations

Ways a Teacher Can Use A Personal Website To access your resources. The best way to keep track of your favorite links is on a web page. Once they are on the web, they are accessible from anywhere. This is better than bookmarking, which is dependent on a specific machine. Disseminating information to students. Sick of repeating yourself. Put it on your website. This also eliminates redistributing handouts to students who were absent, or lost the originals. Teacher collaboration. Post material on your website and refer them to it. Self-promotion. Let them know that you’ve been hard at work. Sharing information with parents. Keep them informed about what’s going on. Also, they can never say, “I didn’t get that flier” again.

Resources The Digital Edge: Understanding Generational Differences Millenials, Mayhem & Miracles %20&%20Miracles.pdf %20&%20Miracles.pdf Working with Millennials: The Next Generation of College Students a/Millenials_Staff_Development_04.pdf a/Millenials_Staff_Development_04.pdf Apple Education – Digital Tools for Digital Students