The Multigenerational Classroom

February 2008Presented by

Jacqueline Callery

Millennials

GenerationsBirth Year Generation Age 2007

1925-1945 Silent Generation 62-82

1946-1964 Baby Boomer Generation

43-61

1965-1980 Generation X 27-42

1981-2000* Millennial Generation 7-26

* This range varies across different sources, 1979 earliest noted

WHAT GENERATION ARE YOU?

In many instances, your classrooms are multi-generational

Baby Boomers43-61

MillennialsUnder 26

Generation X

27-42

Age in 2007

CH DP LC OH OP PR SP Grand Total

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

Age by Campus, Freshmen-Fall 2007

18-2021-2526+

Chicago Campus

18-2038%

21-2531%

26+31%

CH-Total_Fall 07

Chicago Campus

18-207%

21-2531%

26+63%

CH-Eve_Fall 07

18-2056%

21-2531%

26+13%

CH-Day-Fall07

Approximately 87% are 18-25 years old, 15% 26+

Approximately 37% are 18-25 years old, 63% 26+

18-2038%

21-2531%

26+31%

CH-Total_Fall 07

The Millennials Are Coming

• Morley Safer reports on the new generation of "millennials.”- November 11, 2007

• http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/08/60minutes/main3475200.shtml

Reactions and Thoughts

Your Descriptors

As we proceed…..

• Do not assume these groups are monolithic• Do not generalize or stereotype• There are layers and dynamics that driven by

cultural and socio-economic dimensions

Core Values

Generation X• Dedication• Hard Work• Conformity• Law and Order• Patience• Delayed reward• Duty before pleasure• Adherence to rules• Honor

• Optimism• Team Orientation• Personal Gratification• Health and Wellness• Personal Growth• Youth• Work• Involvement

Baby Boomers

Different Life Experiences

Baby Boomers• Pill approved in 1960• Kennedy Assassination• Civil Rights Movement• Watergate• VCRs• Man on the Moon

Millennials• Clinton• Cell Phones• September 11• War on Terrorism• Iraq• American Idol• Global Warming• Internet

The Millennial Buzz Words

Special

Sheltered

CONFIDENT

Team-OrientedConventional

Achieving

Pressured

Special

– High Expectations– Intrusive parents (Helicopter)

Sheltered

– Child Safety/Baby on board– Rules should be clear and enforced fairly– Trust and count on authority– Ambitious with no plan

• Underestimate what is actually required• Directionless

CONFIDENT

– Expect good news– Trophies for participating– Comfortable with negotiating behavior– Motivated based on beneficial outcomes

Team-Oriented

– Like to congregate– Like to collaborate– Get along to get along

• I am a team player but…– Need structure, need a net, need protection from authority

figures to make sure they achieve

Conventional

– Close to their parents– Identify with parent values– Will follow rules

Achieving

– Need to achieve• Want things to be fair and criteria-based

– Expect to achieve• Expect high grade for compliance

– Clear reward structure– Neat and tidy path

Pressured

– Expected to perform– Structure or path should guarantee success

Racially and ethnically diverse

Asian Black Hispanic Caucasian/Other

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

45.00%

RMC-Ethnicity

200520062007

Different Classroom Expectations

Baby Boomers• Believed you worked for

you grade• Learning is painful• The reward comes with

hard work• Make a plan and stick to it• Respect and honor the

expert• Trusting of authority

Millennials• Expect grades without significant

effort• Want education to be

comfortable and entertaining• Gratification comes instantly• Moment to moment• Little respect for authority

(knowledge)• Cynical• Personal privilege rules• Naïve sense of the future

A Student’s Perspective

Now What

• Find a common ground• Give meaning to what students are learning

– Life application (Past, present, and future)• Why should they care?• Take advantage of their ability to find information

—have them bring the information to class, make them obligated and accountable

• Offer choices and create curriculum with the students

Final Thoughts From the Literature

• Provide options, choice• Want balance• Flexibility and convenience (room to drop out and drop in)• Learn by doing (directions are old news, lectures are out)• Want to read less • Personalize and customize (feedback more often in a variety of ways)• Prefer collaboration (provide clear direction)• Want results (can find it somewhere else)• Multitaskers (what is most efficient?)• Digital, digital (integrated and seamless)• Instant and available information• Media junkies

Strategy Brainstorming

Millennials

• This generation is going to force us to revisit our education paradigm because failure is not an option– How can we create a safe space for learning?

• A space different than the one we experienced– How can faculty learn to share that space with

learners?

THANKS FOR THECONVERSATION !