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Presentation to INFORMS Teaching Effectiveness Colloquium
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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
• CDs
• Individualist
Generation XGeneration X
• Video games
• PC
• 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
