Download - COMMUNICATING WITH TODAY'S STUDENT-ATHLETES
COMMUNICATING WITH TODAY'S
STUDENT-ATHLETES
The Millennials
California Community College Athletic Association
Spring Conference
Doubletree HotelOntario, CA
March 31, 2009
3:15-5:15 pm
Presenters:
James ForkumDean and Athletics Director - Santa Rosa Junior
College
Sherry ForkumEnglish Professor - William Jessup University
Principal Consultants: Generational Differences Consulting
gendiff.com
OUTCOMES:Understanding the Generational Divide
and Importance in the Community College Education and Athletics Environments
Foundational Impacts on the Millennials
Knowledge of Millennial Characteristics (Technology)
Tools and Applications for Your Use
Why Should You Broaden Your Knowledge of Self and Others?
“6” in the Societal Settings
Know Our Own Generation to Understand Other Generations
Change, Motivation, Recruitment, Team-Building, and Maintaining/Increasing Growth
Retention of Relationships: Students, Employees, Members of Various Organizations
GENERATIONAL GROUPSG. I. Generation – 1901-1924 (ages 85-108)
Silent Generation – 1925-1942 (ages 67-84)
Boomers – 1943-1960 (ages 49-66)
Generation X – 1961-1981 (ages 28-48)
Millennials – 1982-2002 (ages 7-27)
Homeland – 2003 - (Ages 6 and under)
GENERATIONAL COMPARISONSSILENT BOOMER GEN X MILLENNIAL
Size 52 Million 78 Million 70.2 Million 78-100+ Million
Other Names Traditionalists Consciousness Generation
Me Generation
Modern “Lost” Generation
Slacker Generation
Generation YEcho Boom
Generation Next
Heroes GI Generation Themselves Anti-HeroesComic-Books
ParentsSilent Generation
Family Life Earliest marrying and babying generation
Silent women divorces in record
numbersLarge numbers of
women in the workforce later in the
generational cycle
Religious and/or spiritually oriented
Health orientedWaiting until later in life to have children
Have became “helicopter”
parents
Adult oriented from an early age“Anti-child” movement
Less parental supervision than ever
before (latch-key)Little peer interaction
in childhood“Copter” parenting
continued (Blackhawks)
“Special” – eagerly anticipated
Lowest parent to child ratio ever
Universally protectedSheltered
Continued…SILENT BOOMER GEN X MILLENNIAL
Work Large increase in number of people in “helping professions” in 1960s
WorkaholicsCareer focused30+year career
First to seek work/life balanceNot constrained by time and/or place
3 out of 4 work more than 31 hours per weekMore discretionary income than any previous group
Significant Life Events
DepressionSexual revolution occurred while this generation was in mid-lifeKorean War
VietnamSexual revolutionKent StateJFK
Gulf WarBerlin Wall comes downChallenger explosion
ColumbineSeptember 11Afghanistan & IraqContinued high school and college/university incidences
Notes Generation of role reversalsFocused on previous generation while young and subsequent generation in adulthood
Intense attention focused on this group for the entire Boomer lifespanSelf-aware and self-centered (largest number of self-help books)
Mired in an age of death*AIDS*Homicides drug-related deaths increased*Suicidal (at a near record rate of almost 5000 per year in mid ‘80s)
OptimisticConventionalRacially diversePressuredBody Art
Culture Has Changed• One of the top rappers is white• The number one golfer is black• The tallest player in the NBA is Chinese• The President of the United States of America
is bi-racial
• Millennials are culture-blind
Learning Environment of the FuturePaperless Environments
but…Psychologically people are tactile
Like to hold, handle, open something/Kindle
Telecommuting/Virtual Worldsbut…Social, need to work in groupsMeet physicallyInteract
PERCEPTIONSSilents – view Boomers as self-absorbed, share too much
information, question authority
Boomers – view Silents as rigid/dictatorial, company men, accept party line
Boomers – view Gen Xers as too impatient, throw out tried and true, not “company”/fickle
Gen Xers – view Boomers as inflexible to change/ say the right thing to the right person, don’t have a
life
Gen Xers – view Millennials as too spoiled/self-absorbed, too “Me”, entitled
Millennials – view Gen Xers as cynical/negative, no fun
Millennials – view older Boomers and Silents as worth listening to, “buddies”, models
A team that allows choices and openly explores ideas, and whose members value
learning, will better accommodate the needs and values of members of different
generations.
Constance Patterson, Ph.D.
Activity
1. How would you describe your generation, in general?2. How would you describe a Millennial, in general?
Don’t forget physical characteristics. Share with a neighbor.
Getting Inked and Pierced
In the Rear View
10 Attributes of an Information-Age Mindset (J. Frand)
Computers are not technologyThe Internet is better than TVReality is no longer realDoing is more important than knowingLearning more closely resembles Nintendo than
logicMultitasking is a way of lifeTyping is preferred to handwritingStaying connected is essentialThere is zero tolerance for delaysConsumer and Creator are blurring
Wired/WirelessDigital NativesCell Phones, Blackberry, iPhoneMP3 Players/iPodsTexting/SextingWeb SurfingFacebook/MySpace (Social Networks)TwitterFinger on the pulse of the WorldRight Here/Right Now Generation
The Millennial World(Our World)
Average teenager spends more than 72 hours a week using electronic media (2006)
In 2007, Millennials watched 35 movies for every book they read (many books made into movies)
Pew Internet research – nearly 80% of 28 and younger regularly read blogs/ 30% of 29-40
40% of teenagers and 20-somethings have created their own blogs
Learning CharacteristicsTeamwork ActivitiesCooperative GroupingExperiential ActivitiesStructureUse of Technology (SIDs, TM, IRDs)Email/Instant Messaging are Natural
Communication and Socialization MechanismsAuthenticity, honesty, and humility are more
important than an authoritarian leader
More Characteristics
A cult of groupthink - collaborative and team-oriented
The Volvo Experience
Obama Phenomenon
10% retain what is heard, media use raises the average to 25%, direct experience raises the average to 80-90%
Some NegativesMulti-taskingPoor Communication Skills (writing)Oral CommunicationMath SkillsMass StimulationLack of Critical Thinking/Problem Solving as an
individualPlagiarism/Cheating (turnitin.com)Problem Discerning Truth (Wikipedia)
Learning ParadigmLearner Centered
Collaboration
Active Participation
Multimedia Content
Information Exchange
Critical Thinking
Problem-Solving
Delivered Anytime
Delivered Anywhere
ExperientialFirst person learnersLearn by doing rather than by being told what to
doPrefer to express their views and incorporate their
experiences instead of being toldLearn through discovery, exploring for themselves
or with peersLearning in this manner enables them to retain the
information and use it in creative and meaningful ways
Persistent with trial and error
StrategiesAwareness of new Technology (Textspeak)
‘Dis maks my teacha cry’Different methods of reporting
information: podcasts, vodcasts, blackboard, forums, use of PowerPoint, RSS (Really Simple Syndication), LCS (Lecture Capture System), Students
Setting ParametersWebsitesRecruiting
Strategies Continued …Make learning a social activity that engages and interacts.
Do not use TTT (Talk, Text, Test).
Challenge them – They care about what matters and use responsibility as a reward.
Ask them their opinion – Collaboration (including web-based) and being part of a team is important to them.
Find them a mentor – They have great respect for Silents.
Provide timely (worthwhile) feedback – At the touch of a button. Little tolerance for delay. E-mail is “so yesterday!”
Cell phones, PDAs, and laptops are becoming mandatory classroom extensions.
Remember they are mobile nomads that process at twitch speed.
CURRENT NEGATIVE TRENDS and PROBLEMS Underage Drinking Marijuana Use (High)(Boomers) Rave Culture (Ecstasy Use) Sexually Promiscuous (Hooking Up) Technology Use Etiquette (Misuse/sexting) Time Management (Sleep Patterns) Poor Communication Skills (Texting=Speaking/Writing) Media Oriented (Self-Image)
Multi-tasking Mass Stimulation Lack of Critical Thinking/Problem Solving as an individual
(Groupthink) Plagiarism/Cheating (turnitin.com) Problem Discerning Truth (Wikipedia)
7 Tools for Communicating with Millennials
1. Understand Yourself and Your Beliefs
2. Engage Them (Intentionally)
3. Listen
4. Ask Questions
5. Clarify What Has Been Said (Eligibility)
6. Impart Tools of Decision Making
7. Affirm Lavishly and Correct Sparingly(Adapted from McAllister’s Saving the Millennial Generation)
The Millennials Are:OptimistsRule Followers (Thrive on Structure)Volunteers and Servants (Mandatory Draft)Accepting of Authority (If honest and humble)Most Protected in History (up to this point)BrightLoyal (brands)“Heroes”Accepting of ALL (Diversity)
SUMMARYProvide StructureProvide Leadership and GuidanceEncourage the Millennial’s Self-
Assuredness, “Can-Do” Attitude, and Positive Personal Self-Image
Take Advantage of the Millennial’s Comfort Level With Teams. Encourage Them To Join
Listen to the MillennialMillennials Are Up For The Challenge and
Change
Food for Thought
It’s not the first half of the game that counts, but how you leave the court at the end of the game.
Time for You
QuestionsAnswers