Technology, the Millenials, and Learning - Looking Beyond 2010 Lesley Blicker Director of IMS...

Technology, the Millenials, and Learning - Looking Beyond 2010

Lesley BlickerDirector of IMS Learning and Next Generation TechnologyMinnesota State Colleges and Universitieslesley.blicker@csu.mnscu.edu 651-201-1413

A Profile of Today’s Learners

- the Millenials

1. The generation born between 1982 and 2000

2. Also known as “Echo boomers,” the Net Generation, Digital Natives

3. Very comfortable with technological learning tools including online learning and courseware, presentation software, Web page design, spreadsheet software

4. Are education-oriented

Source: “Identifying the Generation Gap in Higher Education: Where do Differences Really Lie?” Paula Garcia and Jingjing Qin. Innovate Journal of Online Education, April/May 2007. http://innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=379

A Profile of the Millenials – cont’d

5. Are more assertive information seekers

6. Have no tolerance for delays

7. The Internet is better than TV

8. Doing is more important than knowing

9. Multi-tasking is a way of life

10. Typing is preferred to handwriting

11. Staying connected is essential

Source: “Teaching and Learning with the Net Generation,” Barnes, Marateo, and Ferris. Innovate Journal of Online Education, April/May 2007. Also “Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Millenials: Understanding the New Students,” D. Oblinger, Educause July/August 2003.

Generational Views

TV Generation

PC Generation

Net Generation

Web What is it? It’s a tool It’s oxygen

Community Personal Extended personal

Virtual

Perspective Local Multi-national Global

Loyalty Corporation Self Soul

Authority Hierarchy Unimpressed Self as expert

Source: Savage, T. (2003) from Oblinger 2004. http://www-jime.open.ac.uk/2004/8/oblinger-2004-8-disc-paper.html

Are Their Attention Spans Really Short?

• Yes…for the old ways of learning

• But NOT for games or for anything else that interests them

• They crave interactivity—an immediate response to their each and every action

• Traditional education provides very little of this compared to the rest of their world

Adapted from Marc Prensky, 2001.

Forest Park High School Digital Video Media Segment – The

Millenials at School

Digital Natives

Source: Marc Prensky, 2001.

“Every time I go to school I have to power down,” complains a high-school student.

Media Exposure

• Spent 10,000 hours on video games

• Read 200,000 emails• Watched 20,000 hours

TV• Spent 10,000 hours

on the cell phone• Spent under 5,000

hours reading

By age 21, the average person will have:

– Marc Prensky, 2003

00

50005000

1000010000

1500015000

2000020000

2500025000

E-mailsE-mails

Video Video

GamesGames

ReadingReading

TelevisionTelevision

Cell Cell PhonePhone

What Technologies are The Millenials Using

In 2007?

Portable Devices, IMs, and Game Controllers

Learning Technologies:Course Management Systems

Add-On Learning Tools

Add-On Learning Tools - cont’d

Digital connectedness is prized above all else

Social Technologies

Immersive Learning Environments (ILEs):3D Virtual Worlds (Games/Sims)

Why ILEs? Why Simulations?

MNSCU SECOND LIFE VIDEO (YOUTUBE) -http://youtube.com/watch?v=PsFE7uzF-5w

Personal Learning Landscape

Source: “The Future CMS,” by Scott Leslie. Edutools, November, 2006. http://www.edtechpost.ca/gems/TheFutureCMS3.htm

1. Fusion of mobile, IM and Web

2. Maturation of Open Source options (e.g., Moodle, .Lrn,Sakai)

3. 3D engine product ubiquity (Second Life, Croquet, Active Worlds). Groundswell of ILEs and virtual campuses occurring

4. Digital textbooks (e-books)

5. Mashups

6. Continuation of social networks moving to the 3D virtual world

Future Learning Technology Trends

7. Open standards approach to tool interoperability and integration (future IMSs could have 100s of add-ons)

8. Content-sharing beyond the bounds of one organization

9. Cont’d blurring between content creator and consumer

10. Rapid expansion of Web 2.0 tools

11.Technologies allowing users to build, tinker, learn, and share

Future Learning Technology Trends

1. Integration of learning technologies into strategic plans and institutional priorities, similar to current integration of facility planning, admin processes, library and student services

2. Getting a handle on what to focus on

3. Investing in technologically competent faculty

4. Figuring out how/whether/when to support entrepreneurial efforts

Strategic Technological Challenges

For copies or more information on the Millenials and Next Generation Learning Technologies, please contact:

Lesley BlickerDirector of IMS Learning and Next Generation TechnologyMinnesota State Colleges and Universitieslesley.blicker@csu.mnscu.eduWork: 651-201-1413Cell: 651-269-0107