The Net Generation in Class
SteveBeen spending some time this week reading the fantastic, 'grown up digitial' by Don Tapscott. ;)
It really is a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in understanding how Generation Y, or the Millennials, or the Net Generation, or whatever you would like to call the group born between 1979 and 1997 will forever change education delivery, workforce management, social networking, and collaboration.
To me the key points I have taken from the book center around the ways that Gen Y students generally prefer to be 'taught'. The classic mode of delivery with the teacher in front of the class expounding his or her words of wisdom which the students dutifully transcribe and hopefully successfully regurgiate later on for the exam. This method is tired, old, and frankly boring for everyone.
Gen Y students want to to give their opinions, insights, and help to co-design the curriculum and content. They are much more comfortable in a collaborative environment, and will gladly assist and help each other in their efforts. They have the tools to explore and inject concepts and content from everywhere.
A key takeaway for me as the insructor is to stop talking so much, start listening and start asking more questions.
In class I introduce a number of technologies like Performance Management, Succession Planning, wikis, blogs, and microblogs. But rather on 'telling' the students what they are used for, perhaps I need to spend more time having the students tell me what these tools can be used for.
I think, then we will both learn more, and be better for the experience.
Reader Comments (2)
You make a good point about being taught. Simply doing because "that's how its done" or because "I said so" are not going to work with the young generation. Gen-Y needs validity and purpose. Thanks for the post on the book, I haven'e yet heard of it. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend.
Thanks for the comment, Greg, I think the book makes a number of excellent points about teaching Gen Y and I am anxious to apply some of the concepts in my next class.
Steve