the millennial generation student: what k-12 educators need to know terri manning bobbie everett...
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The Millennial Generation Student: What K-12 Educators Need to Know
The Millennial Generation Student: What K-12 Educators Need to Know
Terri Manning
Bobbie EverettCheryl Roberts
Terri Manning
Bobbie EverettCheryl Roberts
A Study Funded by the Workforce Development BoardA Study Funded by the Workforce Development Board
It May Take a Village to Raise a Child, but it Takes a Society to
Raise a Generation
It May Take a Village to Raise a Child, but it Takes a Society to
Raise a Generation
Economic ConditionsSocietal NormsPolitical EventsMajor Crises
Each GenerationEach Generation• Consists of approximately a 20-year span
(not all demographers and generation researchers agree on the exact start/stop dates)
• Has a unique set of values • Reacts to the generation before them• Looks at their generation as the standard
of comparison• Looks at the next generation skeptically
“these kids today…”• Those born on the “cusp” may have a
blended set of characteristics• They are either idealistic, reactive, civic
or adaptive
The Veterans (also known as the Silent Generation or the Greatest Generation) 1925–1942 (adaptive)
The Veterans (also known as the Silent Generation or the Greatest Generation) 1925–1942 (adaptive)
• Children of the Great Depression and WWII, this generation decided not to attack the institutions created by the generation before them, but instead, as global thinkers, they chose to focus on improving and refining them so that they could be good for everyone, not just a select few.
• The overall goal was not to change the system, but to work within it.
• While economically very successful, they were also the inventors of "the midlife crises" probably because they didn't get a chance to enjoy the freedoms of their youth.
The Veterans ChildhoodThe Veterans Childhood• Raised by the GI Generation
(civic)• Large families (3-5 children)• Strong sense of extended
family (same town or home)• Grandparents in the home• Average 10-year-old spent 4-6 hours daily with a significant
adult role model• Rural society• Apprenticeship businesses and farming• Perception of the world as
“safe”
Core ValuesDedicationHard WorkConformityLaw and OrderPatienceDelayed RewardDuty before PleasureAdherence to RulesHonor
Core ValuesDedicationHard WorkConformityLaw and OrderPatienceDelayed RewardDuty before PleasureAdherence to RulesHonor
The VeteransThe VeteransImportant Events• Lindbergh Completes
First Transatlantic Flight
• Stock Market Crash• Depression• The New Deal• Social Security• Pearl Harbor• The End of WWII• FDR Dies• Korean War
Cultural Memorabilia• Kewpie Dolls• Mickey Mouse• Flash Gordon• Radio• Wheaties• Tarzan• Jukeboxes• Blondie• The Lone Ranger• The McCarthy Era
Veterans Came Home from World War II
Veterans Came Home from World War II
• And gave birth to the next generation
• The Baby Boomers 1943–1964 (the largest generation, idealist)
The Baby Boomers 1943–1964 (the largest generation, idealist)The Baby Boomers 1943–1964 (the largest generation, idealist)
Core Values Optimism Team Orientation Personal Gratification Health and Wellness Personal Growth Youth Work Involvement
Core Values Optimism Team Orientation Personal Gratification Health and Wellness Personal Growth Youth Work Involvement
• Divorce reached a low in 1960 of 9%
• Families moved due to GI Bill, GI housing
and industrialization• First generation to live miles from extended family• Family size smaller (2-3 children)• Few grandparents in the home• Moms stayed home – no daycare• Children spent significant time with adult role models (mostly mom)• Perception of the world as “safe”
Baby BoomersBaby BoomersImportant Events• Rosa Parks• First Nuclear Power Plant• The Civil Rights Act• Cuban Missile Crisis• John Glen Orbits the Earth • Martin Luther King Leads March
on Washington, D.C.• President John F. Kennedy
Assassination• National Organization for Women
Founded• Martin Luther King Assassination • Robert F. Kennedy Assassination• Watergate• Kent State Massacre• Vietnam War• Woodstock
Cultural Memorabilia
• Television• The Ed Sullivan
Show• Barbie Dolls• Fallout Shelters• Poodle Skirts • Pop Beads• Slinkies• TV Dinners• Hula Hoops• The Peace Sign• Laugh In
Baby-boomer Results Baby-boomer Results • Very idealistic - banned together and
walked through life with their fists held high
• Generation gap occurred between them and their parents
• Captured phrases like “why be normal” and “question authority”
• They weren’t friendly toward authority figures
• Did not get along with their parents and swore they would not raise their kids like they were raised
• As adults - work an average of 55 hours per week
A Changing NationA Changing Nation
75.1%
74.7%
80.3%
83.1%87.5%
88.6%
89.5%
89.8%
89.8%
89.8%
88.9%
87.9%
12.3%
12.1%
12.1%11.7%
11.1%
10.5%
10.0%9.8%
9.7%
9.9%
10.7%
11.6%
13.2%
12.6%7.6%5.2%1.4%0.9%0.5%0.4%0.5%0.4%0.4%0.5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2005
White
African American
Other Minority
The Late Veterans and Early Boomers Gave Birth to the Next Generation
The Late Veterans and Early Boomers Gave Birth to the Next Generation
• The Gen Xers 1965–1982• A Lost Generation…
A Nomadic Generation…..
• Half the Size of the Baby Boom (reactive)
The Gen X ChildhoodThe Gen X Childhood• Divorce reached an all-time high• Single-parent families became
the norm• Latch-key kids were a major issue
of the time• Children not as valued – looked at
as a hardship• Families spread out (miles apart)• Family size = 1.7 children (many
only-children)• Perception of the world as
“unsafe”• Average 10 year old spent 14 ½
minutes a day with a significant adult role model
• Parents looked around and said – we need to do this better
Core ValuesDedicationHard WorkConformityLaw and OrderPatienceDelayed rewardDuty before pleasureAdherence to rulesHonor
Core ValuesDedicationHard WorkConformityLaw and OrderPatienceDelayed rewardDuty before pleasureAdherence to rulesHonor
Gen X Gen X Important Events• Women’s Liberation Protests• Watergate Scandal• Energy Crisis begins• Tandy and Apple Market PCs• Mass Suicide in Jonestown• Three Mile Island• US Corporations Massive Layoffs• Iran Hostage Crisis• John Lennon Killed• Ronald Reagan Inaugurated• Challenger Disaster• Exxon Valdez Oil Tanker Spill• HIV
Cultural Memorabilia
• The Brady Bunch• Pet Rocks• Platform Shoes• The Simpsons• Evening Soaps
(Dallas and Dynasty)
• ET• Cabbage Patch Dolls• Super-hero
Cartoons on TV (He-man)
Generation XGeneration X
• This is the conscientious, extremely pragmatic, self-sufficient generation that has a ruthless focus on the bottom-line.
• Born and raised at a time when children were at the bottom of our social priorities, Gen Xers learned that they could only count on one thing - themselves. As a result, they are very "me" oriented.
• They are not active voters, nor are they deeply involved in politics in general.
The Echo Boom/Millennials…The Echo Boom/Millennials… The Millennials are almost as large as the baby boom-
some say larger - depending on how you measure them (approx. 81M).
The Millennials are the children born between 1982 and 2002 (Civic), a cohort called by various names:
Generation Y Echo Boom
Net GenerationMillennials
Things Began to Change for This GenerationThings Began to Change for This Generation
• Abortion rates peaked in 1980 and began a slow decline.
• Poverty rate for children peaked in 1983 and began a slow decline (Medicaid began).
• US divorce rate peaked in 1981 and began a decline.• Homicide rate against children peaked in 1982 and
began a decline.• They were born into a better world, a more optimistic
world than the generation before them.
MillennialsMillennials• This generation is civic-minded, much like
the previous GI Generation. • They are collectively optimistic, long-term
planners, high achievers with lower rates of violent crime, teen pregnancy, smoking and alcohol use than ever before.
• This generation believes that they have the potential to be great and they probably do. We are looking to them to provide us with a new definition of citizenship.
The Millennial ChildhoodThe Millennial Childhood
• The most monumental financial boom in history.
• Steady income growth through the 1990’s.
• Still great disparity between races.• Saw their parents lose all their
stocks and mutual funds (college funds) during the early 2000’s.
Demographic TrendsDemographic Trends
The Baby Boomers chose to become older parents in the 1980s while Gen X moms reverted back to the earlier birth-age norm, which meant that two generations were having babies.
In 1989, 29 percent of the 4.4 million live births were to women aged 30 and older.
Millennials have older largely Baby Boomer parents: Average age of mothers at birth at an all time high of 27 in 1997.
Demographic Trends, cont.Demographic Trends, cont.
Smaller families: Only children will comprise about 10% of the population.
More parental education: 1 in 4 has at least one parent with a college degree.
Kids born in the late ‘90s are the first in American history whose mothers are better educated than their fathers by a small margin.
Demographic Trends – Changing DiversityDemographic Trends – Changing Diversity Increase in Latino immigration
- Latino women tend to have a higher fertility rates than non-Latino women.
Nearly 35% of Millennials are nonwhite or Latino.
Twenty percent of this generation has at least one parent who is an immigrant.
Millennials have become the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in US History.
Safety IssuesSafety Issues
The Safest Generation• This generation was buckled up
in car seats, wore bike helmets, elbow and knee pads when skating, and were the inspiration for “Baby on Board” signs.
The Well-Being of U.S. Teens• Mortality Rate for US teens aged 15–19
declined from 1960 to 1997.-Teens are having fewer accidents than Boomers
Youth Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths (rates per 100,000)Youth Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths (rates per 100,000)
25.22625.8
33.133.5
42.3
38.4
43.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2004
Ages 15-19
Source: http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/figures/77-Figure-1.gif
% of Children Who Reported Having Worn Seatbelts Almost All the Time% of Children Who Reported Having Worn Seatbelts Almost All the Time
7683
73 737884
77
989898999392
87
94 93 93 89
82
49
8184
81
67
33
7678
7568
3130
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
1985 1990 2002 2004 2005 2006
<1 year
1-3 years
4-7 years
8-15 years
16-24 years
Source:http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/figures/45-Figure-3.gif
Carry Weapons to School (reported carrying a weapon at least once within 30 days)Carry Weapons to School (reported carrying a weapon at least once within 30 days)
15.1
19.919.8
22.6
27.5
19.4
16.7
26.8
21.1
17.1
29
20.3
16.8
16.916.1
21.3
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
29
1991 1995 2001 2005
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
Source: http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/tables/19_Table_1.htm
Children (9th -12th Grade) Who Have Gotten in a Fight in the Last YearChildren (9th -12th Grade) Who Have Gotten in a Fight in the Last Year
43.5
36.6
31.629.1
47.3
39.5
50.5
34.7
40.443.1
36.9
29.1
43
26.5
3133.9
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
1991 1995 2001 2005
9th Grade
10th Grade
11th Grade
12th Grade
Source: http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/tables/22_Table_1.htm
Violent CrimeViolent CrimePercentage of students ages 12–18 who reported criminal victimization
at school during the previous 6 months, by type of victimization and selected student characteristics: 1995 and 2005
Student characteristic
1995 2005
Total Theft ViolentSerious violent1 Total Theft Violent
Serious violent
1
Total 9.5 7.1 3.0 0.7 4.2 3.1 1.2 0.3
Male 10.0 7.1 3.5 0.9 4.5 3.0 1.6 0.3
Female 9.0 7.1 2.4 0.4 3.9 3.2 0.7 0.3
White 9.8 7.4 3.0 0.6 4.6 3.4 1.3 0.3
Black 10.2 7.1 3.4 1.0 3.9 2.7 1.3!
Hispanic 7.6 5.8 2.7 0.9 3.8 3.0 0.9 0.4
Other 8.8 6.5 2.5 2.2! 1.6
Source: www.nces.ed.gov
Percent of children watching 4 or more hours of TV a dayPercent of children watching 4 or more hours of TV a day
29.0%
32.9%36.7%36.4%
22.0%24.1%
24.8%28.2%
19.6%20.1%19.3%
22.8%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
1991 1995 2000 2006
8th graders10th graders12th graders
Source: http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/tables/55_Table_1.htm
Percentage of Students who Reported Substance Free in the Past 30 DaysPercentage of Students who Reported Substance Free in the Past 30 Days
78.7%75.0%
64.7%
69.1%
60.3%
51.9% 49.3%
59.0%
48.1%
47.0%38.6%40.0%
30.00%
50.00%
70.00%
1990 1999 2003 2007
8th graders
10th graders
12th graders
Source: http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/figures/80-Figure-1.gif
Percentage of Children Age 3-17 Who Have Been Diagnosed ADHD by a
Doctor
Percentage of Children Age 3-17 Who Have Been Diagnosed ADHD by a
Doctor
6.4%7.2%
6.4%6.6%5.6%5.9%5.5%
9.0%
10.3%9.1%9.3%9.3%
8.5%8.3%
3.6%4.0%3.5%3.8%2.7%3.2%2.6%
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%
14.00%
16.00%
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Total ADHDBoys ADHDGirls ADHD
Child Trends Databank, http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/76ADHD.cfmChild Trends Databank, http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/76ADHD.cfm
Things Going UpThings Going Up
18.8%
15.8%
11.3%
6.5%
5.0%
10.5%
16.1%17.4%
3.4%
5.1%5.8% 6.0%
6.0%6.2%
3.2%4.5%
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%
14.00%
16.00%
18.00%
20.00%
1980 1990 2000 2004
Obesity Children 6-11
Obesity Children 12-19
Asthma Children 5-10
Asthma Children 11-17
Source: http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/figures/15-Figure-1.gifSource: http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/figures/15-Figure-1.gif
Major Influencing FactorsMajor Influencing Factors
1. Their parents2. The self-esteem movement3. The customer service movement4. Gaming and technology5. Casual communication
Parenting MillennialsParenting Millennials• This generation is being parented by well-
educated, over-involved adults who participate in “deliberate parenting.” They have outcomes in mind.
• Boomers were the first generation to be thrown out in to an unsafe world as adolescents.
• The 60’s and 70’s were very scary and many of us felt unprepared for it.
• We were naïve and didn’t have enough tools in our tool box to deal with it.
Baby Boomers as ParentsBaby Boomers as Parents• Boomers rebelled against the parenting
practices of their parents.• Strict discipline was the order
of the day for boomers.• They made conscious decisions
not to say “because I told you so” or “because I’m the parent and you’re the child.”
• Boomers became more “friendly” with their children. They wanted to have open lines of communication and a relationship with them.
Baby Boomers as ParentsBaby Boomers as Parents• They explained things to their children,
(actions, consequences, options, etc.) – they wanted them to learn to make informed decisions.
• They allowed their children to have input into family decisions, educational options and discipline issues.
• We told them “just because it is on television doesn’t mean it’s true” or “you can’t believe everything you read.”
• We wanted them to question authority.
The ResultThe Result
• Millennials have become “a master set of negotiators” who are capable of rational thought and decision-making skills at young ages.
• They will negotiate with anyone including their parents, teachers and school administrators.
• Some call this “arguing.”
Helicopter ParentsHelicopter Parents• Helicopter Parent (n) A
parent who hovers over his or her children.
• Or Snowplow parent: Parents who clear the way for their children
• ……these (echo) boomers are confident, achievement-oriented and used to hovering "helicopter" parents keeping tabs on their every move. (Anthony DeBarros, "New baby boom swamps colleges," USA Today, January 2, 2003)
Baby Boomer Parents have been their Biggest CheerleadersBaby Boomer Parents have been their Biggest Cheerleaders
• Millennials expect and need praise.
• Will mistake silence for disapproval.
• Millennials expect feedback.
Parental Care in the Millennial EraParental Care in the Millennial Era
• Today’s typical family is spending more, not less, time with kids.
• Smaller families mean more time with each child.
• Fathers are spending more time with children.
• Less housework is being done.• There is a strong connection
between the social lives of parents and kids.
• They get along with their parents and share their parents’ values.
Who are your heroes? Who are your heroes?
• An Associate Press/MTV poll asked millennials who they looked up to as heroes?– 50% said their parents (29% mom, 21%
dad)– 11% named a friend– 10% said God– 8% named a grandmother– 7% a brother– 5% a teacher or professor
CNN 8/20/07CNN 8/20/07
Focus on Self-esteemFocus on Self-esteem• This generation was the center
of the “self-esteem” movement.• 9,068 books were written about
self-esteem and children during the 80s and 90s (there were 485 in the 70s).
• The state of California spent millions studying the construct and published a document entitled “Toward a State of Self-esteem.”
• Yet they can’t escape the angst of adolescence – they still feel disconnected, question their existence, purpose and the meaning of life. They want to feel valued and cared about.
Focus on Customer ServiceFocus on Customer Service
• Expect access (24/7)• Expect things to work like
they are supposed to• If they don’t “that is your
problem”• They want what they have paid for• Everything comes with a toll-free
number or web address• Want “Gateway Go Back”
in classes
Add the Impact of GamingAdd the Impact of Gaming• Gaming has impacted children
– The game endings changed based on the decisions children made (Role Playing Games [Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Chronotrigger]) impacting locus of control.
– Involves a complex set of decision- making skills.
– Teaches them to take multiple pieces of data and make decisions quickly.
– Learning more closely resembles Nintendo, a trial and error approach to solving problems.
We navigated our way through…..We navigated our way through…..
They navigated their way through…..They navigated their way through…..
TechnologyTechnology• This generation has been plugged in
since they were babies.• They grew up with educational software
and computer games.• They think technology should be free.• They want and expect
services 24/7.• They do not live in an
8–5 world.• They function in an
international world.
Millennials Want to Learn
Millennials Want to LearnWith
technologyWith each otherOnlineIn their timeIn their placeDoing things that matter (most important)
Source: Achievement and the 21st Century Learner.Source: Achievement and the 21st Century Learner.
Technology In SchoolTechnology In School• Students are increasingly savvy when
it comes to technology. • In general, students expect faculty to
incorporate technology into their teaching and be proficient at it.
• At the very least, communication via e-mail, access to online resources, PowerPoint presentations, Internet activities, discussion boards and electronic classrooms are expected.
• Faculty will need to balance the use of technology with their own philosophies of teaching.
Characteristics of Today’s ChildrenCharacteristics of Today’s Children
• 76% want to learn more about the world.
• 28% of high school students access foreign news sources via the Internet.
• 90% percent of children between ages 5 and 17 use computers.
• Teens spend more time online using the Internet than watching television.
From: A Nation on the Move, http://www.ed.govFrom: A Nation on the Move, http://www.ed.gov
Characteristics of Today’s ChildrenCharacteristics of Today’s Children• 24% have created their own web pages.• 16% of teens are shareholders in the stock
market.• 33% use “Facebook”, “Twitter”, IM,
“Myspace” or other social networking contexts or formats daily.
• Teens and college students combined spend nearly $400 billion a year.
• The largest group of new users of the Internet from 2000-2002 were 2-5 year olds.34
From: A Nation on the Move, http://www.ed.gov, and Just Kid Inc. KID Formation Series, July 2008, “Meet the Millennial Generation: An Explosive New Consumer Force.”From: A Nation on the Move, http://www.ed.gov, and Just Kid Inc. KID Formation Series, July 2008, “Meet the Millennial Generation: An Explosive New Consumer Force.”
2003 - All Persons 3 Years and Older in the US
White Black Hispanic Other
% using the internet anywhere 65.1% 45.2% 37.2% 61.6%
% using email and messaging 84.8% 71.1% 69.6% 83.3%% playing games 41.4% 50.2% 43.0% 39.5%
% purchasing products and info 74.4% 59.7% 57.2% 68.4%% looking for health information 41.1% 33.6% 30.1% 37.6%% conducting finance trans 31.3% 22.3% 26.6% 35.2%
% looking for jobs online 17.4% 25.6% 21.5% 21.5%
Source: SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 2003, unpublished tabulations. (This table was prepared May 2005.)
2003 - All Persons 3 Years and Older by Income Level
<$10K$10-19K
$20-29K
$30-39K
$40-49K
$50-75K $75K+
% using the internet anywhere 31.5% 32.5% 43.8% 54.3% 64.8% 71.8% 82.9%
% using email and messaging 69.3% 70.6% 75.5% 79.4% 80.2% 83.6% 87.3%
% playing games 48.0% 45.0% 46.1% 44.9% 43.7% 42.7% 39.7%% purchasing products and
info 60.6% 60.4% 64.3% 67.0% 70.6% 72.9% 77.7%% looking for health
information 33.8% 33.4% 35.8% 36.3% 37.6% 39.7% 44.0%% conducting financial
transactions 22.9% 20.7% 24.8% 26.3% 27.3% 31.3% 38.4%
% looking for jobs online 34.5% 26.1% 23.6% 21.2% 18.5% 18.2% 15.9%
2003 Children's Computer Use by Age and Race White 3-4 yrs 5-9 yrs 10-14 yrs 15+ yrs
% using the internet anywhere 26.8% 49.6% 78.2% 87.4%% using email and messaging 24.1% 35.4% 68.5% 87.2%% use for school assignments 23.9% 49.7% 87.4% 92.9%
% playing games 63.5% 65.5% 67.8% 63.4% African American 3-4 yrs 5-9 yrs 10-14 yrs 15+ yrs
% using the internet anywhere 15.0% 33.1% 53.6% 63.6%% using email and messaging 32.5% 27.1% 45.5% 62.7%% use for school assignments 51.6% 58.2% 83.8% 98.2%
% playing games 56.8% 65.6% 68.6% 60.4% Hispanic 3-4 yrs 5-9 yrs 10-14 yrs 15+ yrs
% using the internet anywhere 15.6% 30.3% 51.9% 63.2%% using email and messaging 16.2% 26.6% 48.2% 69.8%% use for school assignments 41.4% 53.6% 78.5% 87.6%
% playing games 71.0% 59.9% 54.9% 53.7%
By age 21…..By age 21…..• It is estimated that the
average child will have:– Spent 10,000 hours playing video games– Sent 200,000 emails– Spent 20,000 hours watching TV– Spent 10,000 hours on their cell phone– Spent under 5,000 hours reading
• But these are issues of income. Will a child who grows up in a low income household have these same experiences?
The “Information Age” MindsetThe “Information Age” Mindset• Students have never known life without
the computer. It is an assumed part of life.• The Internet is a source of research,
interactivity, and socializing (they prefer it over TV).
• Doing is more important than knowing.
• There is zero tolerance for delays.
• The infrastructure and the lecture tradition of colleges may not meet the expectations of students raised on the Internet and interactive games.
Cell Phone TechnologyCell Phone Technology• They all have cell phones and expect
to be in contact 24/7.• Not a phone – a lifestyle management
tool• Staying “connected” is essential.• Communication is a safety issue for
parents.• Communication has become
casual for students (IM, email and cell phones.
What About 1st Generation Students?What About 1st Generation Students?
• Not all students will be proficient; first-generation and students from low income or working class families may have less experience.
• Their experience with technology has been in arcades and minimally in school (poorer districts.)
• They have not had the exposure to educational uses of technology.
• We need a way to low technology skills in about 1/3.
• Huge digital divide between the “haves” and the “have nots” based on income levels (class).
• Digital divide is appearing in pre-K.
In SchoolIn School• They need to understand why
they are doing what they are doing – objectives of classroom activities and projects.
• They want to have input into their educational processes.
• They want to be involved in meaningful activities, not mundane work.
• They think it is cool to be smart.• They will respond well to peer-lead
programs and group-oriented activities.
Millennial ExpectationsMillennial Expectations• Clear expectations, explicit syllabi,
and well structured assignments.• They expect detailed instructions
and guidelines for completing assignments.
• K-12 systems are actively involving children in learning and classroom activities change often.
• Teachers are helpers and facilitators of learning.
• Rude awakening when they get to college.
Issues for Schools in an Information Age
Issues for Schools in an Information Age
• Plagiarism (consumer/creator blurring)
• Cheating (must define it)• Cell Phone Policies • Typing vs. Handwriting (cursive)
From: The Information Age Mindset: Changes in Students and Implications for Higher Education. By Jason L. Frand. Educause. Sep/Oct 2000. From: The Information Age Mindset: Changes in Students and Implications for Higher Education. By Jason L. Frand. Educause. Sep/Oct 2000.
How are Millennials doing in school?How are Millennials doing in school?
• Teachers report that students are doing better academically.
• The largest gains have been in math and science for ages 9 and 13.
• Verbal skills show less clear trends.• Millennials have corrected a late
80s decline in writing proficiency.• Reading scores show modest
gains through the 90s.
SAT Scores – a Twenty Year ReversalSAT Scores – a Twenty Year Reversal
Millennials Taking SATMillennials Taking SAT
Highest SAT Scores in 35 YearsHighest SAT Scores in 35 Years
What Do Businesses and Colleges/ Universities Need to Know about
the Millennial Generation
What Do Businesses and Colleges/ Universities Need to Know about
the Millennial Generation
Here Come the GirlsHere Come the Girls
Boys Issues in K-12Boys Issues in K-12
For Every 100 Girls Who….
Number of Boys
Enroll in Kindergarten 116
Enroll in Ninth Grade 101
Enroll in Twelfth Grade 98
Are Suspended from K-12 250
Are Expelled from K-12 335
Diagnosed with Learning Disability
276
Enroll in the gifted and talented program
94
The Boys Project. http://www.boysproject.net/statistics.htmlThe Boys Project. http://www.boysproject.net/statistics.html
Boys and Their Educational ChoicesBoys and Their Educational Choices
For Every 100 Girls Who….
Number of Boys
Graduate from High School 96
Enroll in College 77
Earn an Associates Degree 67
Earn a Bachelors Degree 73
Earn a Masters Degree 62
Earn a Doctorate 92
The Boys Project. http://www.boysproject.net/statistics.html
College Graduation Projections (numbers in thousands) (61% of degrees will go to
women)
College Graduation Projections (numbers in thousands) (61% of degrees will go to
women)
250
350
450
550
650
750
850
950
1050
Assoc. Degree MaleAssoc. Degree FemaleBach. Degree MaleBach. Degree Female (37.4%)(37.4%)
(62.6%)(62.6%)
(40%)(40%)
(60%)(60%)
AmbitionsAmbitions Most popular college majors:• Medicine• Education/teaching• Business and
marketing
• Engineering• Law and
politics• Computer
science Most sought after qualities in careers:
• Responsibility• Independence• Creativity
• Idealistic and committed co-workers
Most common job trends :
• Multi-taskers• Change Careers
• Seek security & benefits
• Stay with company that offers a challenge
Source: Industry Week, March, 1998.
Difference in ValuesDifference in Values• They have witnessed their
baby boomer parents coming home from stressed jobs, exhausted, falling asleep at the dinner table; and don’t want that for themselves.
• They are a generation who is interested in a life with value and meaning – they do not aspire to what the “boomers” aspire to – they want something different.
True Multi-taskersTrue Multi-taskers• Millennials have lived programmed
lives and are already quite capable of learning several jobs simultaneously and performing them admirably.
• Millennials will change careers many times.
• Retooling and recycling their skills and talents will become common.
• To retain them, smart employers will encourage Millennials to try out different careers within the same company.
Need for Services Need for Services • It is estimated that 3 million Millennials
have been diagnosed with ADHD and have been medicated (80% are boys).
• Within student populations, the number with disabilities has jumped from 3% to 9%.– Many have had individual education plans.– Many need testing services (quiet, separate).– Need to self-advocate to teachers.– Major transition from high school to college.
2004 Research Study2004 Research Study
• Central Piedmont Community College’s Center for Applied Research was contracted to do this study by the Workforce Development Board.– Focus Groups were conducted.– An Online Survey was administered.– Data collected January–March 2004 from
the University of NC at Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College and Johnson C. Smith University.
Characteristics They Look for in TeachersCharacteristics They Look for in Teachers
• At least 50% said:
– Enthusiastic about the course/teaching – Are fun to be around – Provide intellectual challenges – Have flexible class policies – Are sensitive to your needs/feelings – Emphasize preparing for future career
Working in TeamsWorking in Teams
• How do you feel about working in teams?
– I like it 44.7%– Have no feelings about it 25.9%– I don’t like it 29.4%
Working in TeamsWorking in Teams
• In the classroom, do you do the following? 1 = never
2 = rarely3 = sometimes4 = often
Mean (sd)
Are given “team grades” on working with others 2.62 (.89)
Write papers/do projects with others 2.41 (.79)Study/do research in teams 2.35 (.80)
Salary ExpectationsSalary Expectations• Realistically, what do you expect your
starting salary will be when you begin working?
Millennials– $15-20K 7.7%– $21-30K 29.3%– $31-40K 27.0%– $41-50K 15.9%– $50K+ 7.0%– Not sure 12.5%
Approximately 65% felt they would earn $40K or lessApproximately 65% felt they would earn $40K or less
Jobs in LifetimeJobs in Lifetime
• How many jobs do you think you will hold in your lifetime?– 1-3 35.7%– 4-6 41.5%– 7-10 16.5%– Over 10 6.2%
64% expect to have 4 or more jobs
Quality of Life? Quality of Life?
Rank order of items that contribute to a good quality of life
(% ranking item in top 3 on a scale of 1-8)
– Having a secure future for my family 71.5%– Time to enjoy family/children 68.7%– Having family/children 63.2%– Having a great job 60.4%– Having good friends 55.2%– Having plenty of money 45.5%– Having plenty of free time 40.2%
Your Generation in the FutureYour Generation in the Future
• Someday, your generation will be raising kids, running corporations and occupying high political office. When that day comes, which areas of American life will be better, the same or worse than today because of your generation?– 3 = better– 2 = same– 1 = worse
Areas they felt they would do better: TechnologyRace Relations
Areas they felt they would do about the same:
EconomySchoolsArts/Culture
Foreign Affairs Areas they felt they couldn’t improve on: Government
Family LifeReligion Crime/Public Order
Areas they felt they would do better: TechnologyRace Relations
Areas they felt they would do about the same:
EconomySchoolsArts/Culture
Foreign Affairs Areas they felt they couldn’t improve on: Government
Family LifeReligion Crime/Public Order
How They Will Push Us…How They Will Push Us…
• More independence in the workforce• Consumer-based fairness • Better technology• Enhanced professional development• Get rid of “that’s the way we’ve
always done it”• Have more life balance• Re-establish priorities
So How Do We Work With Them?So How Do We Work With Them?• Because they have grown up in a different
world, never assume that they know certain things like:– You don’t want to talk to their mother when they
are having problems.– You don’t get points for showing up or an A for
effort.– The definition of plagiarism and cheating.– It’s not appropriate to call you at home
(especially after 9pm.)– They can’t use IM language in papers.– It’s not okay to email you 10 times a day.– That when they email you at 3am, you’re not
sitting on the other end waiting to respond to them.
Some Major Issues Worth Addressing
Some Major Issues Worth Addressing
• Some of them have been performing below grade level all their lives… and they may not know it (age of social promotion).
• You may be the first strict grader they have encountered (will discourage them).
• Many are not very “hardy.” Will quit or drop out because “it’s hard.”
• They are very good consumers and will figure out a way to stay “under the radar.”
• They are not good planners and will do everything late if allowed.
What Should Institutions Do (In the Classroom)?
What Should Institutions Do (In the Classroom)?
• Develop policies and practices around appropriate communication.
• Give them electronic access to as much as is philosophically possible.
• Draw a line on negotiations.• Give them definitions, boundaries
and rules.
What Should Institutions Do?What Should Institutions Do?
• Create alterative ways for the low-tech students to come up to speed.– Basic keyboarding skills.– Special workshops or lab sessions on
the basics.– Help them master software that “will
do work for them.”– Get access to computers (refurbished,
community projects, grants, etc.)
One Final WordOne Final Word
• In case you're worried about what's going to become of the younger generation, it's going to grow up and start worrying about the younger generation. (Roger Allen)
Who Are They?Who Are They?
• This year all over America, a new generation will be showing up for kindergarten.
• A new “Silent Generation” referred to as Generation Z, Generation Alpha or the Homeland Generation.
• Starts mid-2000’s until about 2017 to 2020 and will be considered an artist generation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss_and_Howehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss_and_Howe
Generation ZGeneration Z• Will be raised on technology, they will not be scared
of anything, they will be open to new ideas.• They will be into truth and loyalty and they will not
be not afraid to voice their opinion. • They will be flexible and open to change. • They will be fearless and fun.• They will be the ‘new’ hope for our own future.• Their great-grandparents belong mostly to
the Silent Generation and the Baby boomers form the core of their grandparents.
• Their parents are seen as being roughly evenly divided between Generation X and Generation Y.
http://www.generationzbaby.com/generation-z.htmlhttp://www.generationzbaby.com/generation-z.html
For a copy of this presentation:
http//www1.cpcc.edu/millennial
Click on: “presentations and workshops”
Contact: [email protected]
For a copy of this presentation:
http//www1.cpcc.edu/millennial
Click on: “presentations and workshops”
Contact: [email protected]