net gen informs

The Net Generation:Are They Really

Different?

Britt WatwoodBritt Watwood

INFORMS TEC 2008INFORMS TEC 2008

Who Are These Students ?

What Does a Net Gen Student Look Like?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/geopollock/25509844/

This ?

Or this?

A Caution

• Is It REALLY “Generational”?

Flickr Photo: chasinet: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chastinet/1271971366/

Who are Net Gen Students?Who are Net Gen Students?

• What Are OUR Assumptions?What Are OUR Assumptions?

Comfort Zones ?

• Tasks?

• Research?

• Problem Solving?

• Project Approach?

FacultyFaculty

A Vision Of Students Today

• Michael Wesch - KSU

Comfort Zones Differ ?

StudentsStudentsFacultyFaculty

• Single or Limited Tasks• Text• Linear, Logical,

Sequential• Independent &

Individual• Disciplined• Deliberate

What Do You See?

Comfort Zones ?

• Tasks?

• Research?

• Problem Solving?

• Project Approach?

StudentsStudents

Comfort Zones Differ

• Multitasking• Pictures, Sound, Video• Random Access• Interactive &

Networked• Engaging• Spontaneous

• Single or Limited Tasks• Text• Linear, Logical,

Sequential• Independent and

Individual• Disciplined• Deliberate

StudentsStudentsFacultyFaculty

Should Teaching & Learning Be Different?

Net Gen Students• Born 1982-1991 • Grew up with computers and other media

at home and in school from earliest ages• Never were tethered to communication in a

place

• Gravitate to group activities• 8 out of 10 say “It’s cool to be smart!”• Focused on grades and performance• Identify with parent’s values• Fascination with new technology• Racially and ethnically diverse

Product of the Environment

Baby BoomersBaby Boomers

• TV generation

• Typewriters

• Telephone

• Memos

• Family focus

Net GenNet Gen

• Web

• Cell phone

• IM

• MP3s• Online

communities

Generation XGeneration X

• Video games

• PC

• Email

• CDs

• Individualist

Generation XGeneration X

• Video games

• PC

• Email

• CDs

• Individualist

Characteristics of Net Gen Students

• DigitalAlways connected, multi-tasking

• SocialOriented to working in groups

• Experiential learners• Immediate• Visual• Producers as well as consumers

Students are disproportionately likely to be (Internet) content creators

Learning Styles• Student learning styles

• 51% visual• 42% equally visual and verbal• 8% verbal

• Collaboration preferred by many students• Adapting space and teaching method to

learning style increased grades 0.5 standard deviations

• Dropouts decreased from 20% to 12%• Course satisfaction increased

Acker & Miller, 2005

Net Gen’s Preference for Learning?

• “Deeper Learning”– Social– Active– Contextual– Engaging– Student-owned

Carmean and Haefner, EDUCAUSE Review 37(6) 2002

Implications for Teaching and Learning?

Resources and References• Diane Oblinger, Educating the Net Generation,

EDUCAUSE• Joan Lippincott, “NetGen Students, Learning,

Technology, and Libraries”, presentation• Carie Widham, “Father Google and Mother IM:

Confessions of a Net Gen Learner”, ELI 2007.

Our Website: http://www.vcu.edu/cte