New Learning New Learning EcosystemsEcosystems

Diana G. Oblinger, Ph.D. Diana G. Oblinger, Ph.D.

The Net GenerationThe Net Generation

Born in or after 1982Born in or after 1982 Gravitate toward group activityGravitate toward group activity Identify with parents’ values; feel Identify with parents’ values; feel

close to parentsclose to parents 8 out of 10 say “it’s cool to be 8 out of 10 say “it’s cool to be

smart”smart” Fascination for new technologiesFascination for new technologies Racially and ethnically diverseRacially and ethnically diverse Examples: Jessica Lynch; Sarah Examples: Jessica Lynch; Sarah

HughesHughes

――Howe & Strauss, 2000Howe & Strauss, 2000――Howe & Strauss, 2000Howe & Strauss, 2000

Today’s learnersToday’s learners

Digitally literate Digitally literate Always onAlways on MobileMobile ExperientialExperiential Community-orientedCommunity-oriented

Teen’s web useTeen’s web use 100%100% use the Internet to seek information use the Internet to seek information

on colleges, careers and jobson colleges, careers and jobs 94%94% use the Internet for use the Internet for

school researchschool research― Textbooks and reference libraryTextbooks and reference library― Virtual tutorVirtual tutor― Virtual study groupVirtual study group― Virtual guidance counselorVirtual guidance counselor― Virtual locker, backpack and notebookVirtual locker, backpack and notebook

41%41% use email and instant messaging use email and instant messaging to contact teachers or schoolmates about class workto contact teachers or schoolmates about class work

The Internet is their primary The Internet is their primary communication toolcommunication tool― 81%81% email friends and relatives email friends and relatives― 70%70% use instant messaging to keep in touch use instant messaging to keep in touch― 56%56% prefer the Internet to the telephone prefer the Internet to the telephone

– – Lenhart, Simon & Graziano, 2001; NetDay, 2003Lenhart, Simon & Graziano, 2001; NetDay, 2003

Media literacyMedia literacy

10,000 hours 10,000 hours video gamesvideo games

200,000 emails200,000 emails 20,000 hours TV20,000 hours TV 10,000 hours 10,000 hours

cell phonecell phone Under 5,000 Under 5,000

hours readinghours reading

By age 21, the average person will By age 21, the average person will have spenthave spentBy age 21, the average person will By age 21, the average person will have spenthave spent

– – Prensky, 2003Prensky, 2003

Games are a way of life Games are a way of life

69% have played games since elementary 69% have played games since elementary schoolschool

By high school, 77% of students have By high school, 77% of students have played gamesplayed games

By college, nearly all students have By college, nearly all students have experienced gamesexperienced games

60% of college students are regular game 60% of college students are regular game playersplayers

Games are part of students’ multitasking Games are part of students’ multitasking environmentenvironment

Games are integrated into daily life (and Games are integrated into daily life (and studying)studying)

Game sales nearly $7 billion (in 2002)Game sales nearly $7 billion (in 2002)--Jones, 2003--Jones, 2003

NetGen learning NetGen learning preferencespreferences

TeamsTeams TechnologyTechnology StructureStructure EngagementEngagement ExperienceExperience Things that matterThings that matter

Non-traditional becomes Non-traditional becomes traditionaltraditional More than half of undergraduates are womenMore than half of undergraduates are women One-third are other than white One-third are other than white 43% are 24 or older (i.e., of non-traditional 43% are 24 or older (i.e., of non-traditional

college age)college age) 80% are employed80% are employed 39% are employed full-time39% are employed full-time 9% of undergraduates have a disability9% of undergraduates have a disability Number of students (ages 5-24) who speak a Number of students (ages 5-24) who speak a

language other than English at home more language other than English at home more than doubled from 1979 to 1999than doubled from 1979 to 1999

--NCES, 2003

Adult learnersAdult learners

35%35% of undergraduates are adult learners of undergraduates are adult learners

70%70% of all adult learners are female of all adult learners are female

38 38 is the median age of undergraduate adult is the median age of undergraduate adult learnerslearners

45%45% of adult of adult learners are over 40 learners are over 40 years of ageyears of age

80%80% of adult of adult learners are employedlearners are employed

– – Swail, 2002 citing NCES, 2002Swail, 2002 citing NCES, 2002

Informal learnersInformal learners

Largely self-directed, Largely self-directed, internally motivatedinternally motivated

2121stst century learners century learners construct their own construct their own courses of learningcourses of learning

Learning is facilitated Learning is facilitated by technologyby technology

Learning is unconstrained by time, place or Learning is unconstrained by time, place or formal learning structuresformal learning structures

Conducted in many styles, for many reasonsConducted in many styles, for many reasons

―Sheppard, 2000

© 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.© 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.This presentation is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.This presentation is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

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