What the Millennials What the Millennials Believe:Believe:

How it can Impact How How it can Impact How we Teachwe Teach

Randy Isaacson Ph.D.Randy Isaacson Ph.D.Indiana University South BendIndiana University South Bend

Associate Faculty & Lecturer Conference Associate Faculty & Lecturer Conference 20072007

Millennial Student Success: Millennial Student Success: New Strategies for New StudentsNew Strategies for New Students

Millennials Work in Millennials Work in GroupsGroups

• Put yourself in groups of 3-4Put yourself in groups of 3-4• Get yourself a “clicker” and, with Get yourself a “clicker” and, with

your group, figure out how it worksyour group, figure out how it works

• ““Voting” (answer) on each question:Voting” (answer) on each question:– By yourself as By yourself as YOUYOU would answer it would answer it– Then a second time, after talking to your Then a second time, after talking to your

group, as you believe a millennial would group, as you believe a millennial would answer the question.answer the question.

Millennials – Millennials – How they See the World … How they See the World …

and Usand UsMe and all my friends, we're all misunderstood Me and all my friends, we're all misunderstood They say we stand for nothing and there's no way we ever could They say we stand for nothing and there's no way we ever could Now we see everything is going wrong with the world and those who lead Now we see everything is going wrong with the world and those who lead it it We just feel like we don't have the means to rise above and beat it We just feel like we don't have the means to rise above and beat it

So we keep on waiting (waiting) waiting on the world to changeSo we keep on waiting (waiting) waiting on the world to changeWe keep on waiting (waiting) waiting on the world to changeWe keep on waiting (waiting) waiting on the world to changeIt’s hard to beat the system when we're standing at a distanceIt’s hard to beat the system when we're standing at a distance

Now if we had the power to bring our neighbors home from war Now if we had the power to bring our neighbors home from war They would have never missed a Christmas, No more ribbons on their They would have never missed a Christmas, No more ribbons on their door door When you trust your television, what you get is what you got When you trust your television, what you get is what you got ‘Cuz’ when they own the information, oh, they can bend it all they want.‘Cuz’ when they own the information, oh, they can bend it all they want.

John Mayer, “Waiting on the World to Change”John Mayer, “Waiting on the World to Change”

A Little BackgroundA Little Background• Fairly dramatic change in the population of Fairly dramatic change in the population of

students at IUSB … I suspect an even students at IUSB … I suspect an even greater change at a school like IUBgreater change at a school like IUB

• Students had different expectations and Students had different expectations and looked to new “authority” for guidance looked to new “authority” for guidance (i.e., parents)(i.e., parents)

• Peer Mentors helped me understand … and Peer Mentors helped me understand … and once I taught them about Millennials … once I taught them about Millennials … which led to a “clicker-test” in my class which led to a “clicker-test” in my class this spring.this spring.

7 Characteristics of 7 Characteristics of MillennialsMillennials(Howe and Strauss)(Howe and Strauss)

Question # Question # 1 1

You are a freshman in college getting ready to sign-up for spring classes. Your parents both graduated from college and you met with your advisor in the summer. Who would you ask for advice before you registered for class next semester?1.Your parents2.Your advisor3.Your friends4.Check the school website5.Figure it out yourself

ShelterSheltereded

Question #2Question #2You are a junior in college and discover that your advisor gave you information about classes that is wrong and will hold up your graduation. What is your next step to avoid a late graduation?1.Confront your advisor2.Call your parents3.Write a letter of appeal to the department4.Send an e-mail to your advisor5.Talk to a peer

ShelterSheltereded

Millennials see Millennials see themselves as Protected themselves as Protected

(Sheltered)(Sheltered)• Helicopter parents Helicopter parents • Safety and health focus of parentsSafety and health focus of parents• Expect security everywhereExpect security everywhere• Parents buying homes for children near Parents buying homes for children near

campuscampus• Encouraged to follow rules and they Encouraged to follow rules and they

expect reinforcement and due process … expect reinforcement and due process … but “I’m special”but “I’m special”

• Post-Columbine (and now Virginia Tech) Post-Columbine (and now Virginia Tech) era: zero tolerance for an unsafe era: zero tolerance for an unsafe campus/world campus/world

Millennials are “Wanted Millennials are “Wanted Children”Children”

• Children of Baby BoomersChildren of Baby Boomers• Parents are likely to have waited until Parents are likely to have waited until

later in life so they are likely to be more later in life so they are likely to be more affluentaffluent

• ““Baby on Board” signs in cars …Baby on Board” signs in cars …• Marketing to children is increasingMarketing to children is increasing• ““It’s all about me” is commonIt’s all about me” is common• Politicians often use “effect on children” Politicians often use “effect on children”

talktalk• Parents are MUCH more likely to “step in” Parents are MUCH more likely to “step in”

and their children expect it.and their children expect it.

Millennials see Millennials see themselves asthemselves as

SpecialSpecial• Larger generation with relatively Larger generation with relatively

wealthy parentswealthy parents• Made important by those who want Made important by those who want

to sell them a service or product to sell them a service or product (consumer mentality)(consumer mentality)

• Collectively vital to nationCollectively vital to nation• Parents build off children’s successParents build off children’s success• Parental involvement in decisionsParental involvement in decisions• Students expect constant feedbackStudents expect constant feedback

So what’s a Teacher to So what’s a Teacher to Do?Do?

• In your group, identify at least two In your group, identify at least two approaches that instructors could use in approaches that instructors could use in their classes given these millennial their classes given these millennial differences.differences.

– Clear procedures that are consistently Clear procedures that are consistently followedfollowed

– Getting to know students personallyGetting to know students personally– Regular and specific feedbackRegular and specific feedback– ……

Characteristic of Characteristic of Millennial ParentMillennial Parent

• ProtectiveProtective– Expect their sons and daughters to be safeExpect their sons and daughters to be safe

• InvolvedInvolved– Want to help children achieve (i.e., they Want to help children achieve (i.e., they

“hover”)“hover”)

• ConcernedConcerned– They want children to receive “their fair They want children to receive “their fair

share”share”

• DemandingDemanding– Very savvy customers and not afraid to step Very savvy customers and not afraid to step

in and support/protect their childrenin and support/protect their children

Question # Question # 3 3 Team-OrientedTeam-Oriented

You will have to make a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation in a class. Which of the following would you prefer?1.Group assigned by the instructor2.Pick your own group3.A partner assigned by the instructor4.A partner you choose5.Make the presentation by yourself.

Millennials are Team-Millennials are Team-Oriented Oriented

• ““Millennials” like to congregate” Millennials” like to congregate” (DeBard)(DeBard)

• They enjoy (expect?) to learn, deliver They enjoy (expect?) to learn, deliver presentations, and get graded in groupspresentations, and get graded in groups

• Activities in teams throughout Activities in teams throughout childhoodchildhood

• Constant connections with peers Constant connections with peers through cell phones, text messaging, through cell phones, text messaging, and MySpace & Facebook and MySpace & Facebook

So what’s a Teacher to So what’s a Teacher to Do?Do?

• In your group, discuss the impact of In your group, discuss the impact of this focus on a team-approach. this focus on a team-approach. What are you doing in your classes, What are you doing in your classes, or what are colleagues doing, to or what are colleagues doing, to address these millennial differences.address these millennial differences.

– Group projects with clear rubricsGroup projects with clear rubrics– Teaching skills for collaborationTeaching skills for collaboration– ……

Question Question #4#4 Everything is NegotiableEverything is Negotiable

In your English class, you had a paper due yesterday; however, you were extremely busy and stressed out about school. The syllabus says there is a penalty for late assignments. What would you do?1.Take the penalty2.Inform your parents and ask for advice3.Visit the professor and ask for a waiver4.Send an e-mail to your professor5.Talk to a peer

Negotiation: Good or Negotiation: Good or Bad?Bad?

Is there anyone who ever remembers changing their mind from the paint on Is there anyone who ever remembers changing their mind from the paint on a sign?a sign?

Is there anyone who really recalls ever breaking rank at allIs there anyone who really recalls ever breaking rank at all

For something someone yelled real loud one time?For something someone yelled real loud one time?

Oh everyone believes in how they think it ought to beOh everyone believes in how they think it ought to be

Oh everyone believes and they're not going easilyOh everyone believes and they're not going easily

Belief is a beautiful armor but makes for the heaviest swordBelief is a beautiful armor but makes for the heaviest sword

Like punching under water you never can hit who you're trying forLike punching under water you never can hit who you're trying for

Some need the exhibition, some have to know they triedSome need the exhibition, some have to know they tried

It's the chemical weapon for the war that's raging on insideIt's the chemical weapon for the war that's raging on inside

Oh everyone believes from emptiness to everythingOh everyone believes from emptiness to everything

Oh everyone believes and no one’s going quietlyOh everyone believes and no one’s going quietly

We're never gonna win the world, we're never gonna stop the warWe're never gonna win the world, we're never gonna stop the war

We're never gonna beat this, if belief is what we're fighting for We're never gonna beat this, if belief is what we're fighting for

Question Question #5#5 TechnologyTechnology

Next week is finals and you are planning on getting a study group organized. How would you inform your peers to see if they are interested in joining the group?1.Meet them in class2.Call them on the phone3.E-Mail them4.Post on MySpace5.Text them

Question Question #6#6

Technology & SpecialTechnology & SpecialIt is Monday and you have just submitted a paper for your M-W class on Oncourse. When do you expect to get feedback from your professor?1.Today2.Tomorrow3.Wednesday4.Next Monday5.In a week or two

General Suggestion for General Suggestion for TeachingTeaching• Student-Faculty contact: Quality is criticalStudent-Faculty contact: Quality is critical

• Learn names, seek contact, talk to students Learn names, seek contact, talk to students outside of class, comments in Oncourseoutside of class, comments in Oncourse

• Encourage participation in groups including Encourage participation in groups including learning partners, discussions, assignmentslearning partners, discussions, assignments

• Give frequent, prompt, and specific feedbackGive frequent, prompt, and specific feedback• Use variety in teaching and assignmentsUse variety in teaching and assignments• Be clear in syllabus, assignments, expectationsBe clear in syllabus, assignments, expectations• Use technology: on-line quizzes, chats, gradingUse technology: on-line quizzes, chats, grading• Discuss academic honestyDiscuss academic honesty