CURATORS’ TEACHING SUMMIT

Tac(k)tical Teaching: Strategies for Success in the

Millennial Classroom

Center for Educational Research and Teaching Innovation - CERTI

2011Freshman Class ProfileInformation provided through New Student Programs

PRO session surveys 1,100 students from 32 states, 6 foreign countries

24% first-generation college students

Average ACT of 27.78, up slightly from last three years

2011 Freshman Time Management

19% play video games 11 or more hours per week

91% have a computer account with a social community (FaceBook, My Space)

95% plan to co-op or internship 82% plan on working 67% plan to complete a BS in four

years or less

2011 Freshman Academic Expectations

44% plan to study more than 11 hours per week

83% studied less than 5 hours per week in high school

At the end of their first year at Missouri S&T:47% expect to have a GPA of 3.5 - 4.0 49% expect to have a GPA of 3.0 - 3.49therefore, 95% expect to have a GPA of 3.0 or

better while only 44% plan to study more than 11 hours per week.

2011 Freshman Expectations of Faculty

95% plan to meet with faculty outside of the classroom/lab

63% feel faculty should be very involved in their career development while 36% feel they should be somewhat involved

Millennial LearnersBorn between 1984-2004Some general characteristics of this generation:ShelteredBelieve that they are special (because that is what adults have told them all of their lives)ImpatientMaterialisticSelf-absorbedResist authoritarian paradigm of leadership (not necessarily a rejection of authority, but how it is exercised)OverconfidentUncomfortable with formality or rigidity

C. Price, Millennial Traits and Teaching. Retrieved from the Internet Sept. 12, 2011: http://www.drtomlifvendahl.com/Millennial%20Characturistics.pdfSweeney, R. (2006) Millennial Behaviors & Demographics, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ, Revised December 22, 2006

Issues in LearningLack of focusShorter attention spansDesire to multi-taskFew coping skills for failureProcrastinationEntitlement mentalityBoundary issues with faculty, other classmatesProblems in group workWon’t easily admit need for helpIncreased need for disability services

Comments From Hit the Ground Running 2011Students*

About having a variety of choices:--I like to keep my options open to stay flexible in my daily

schedule. I do not like to commit to anything until the last minute.

--It all ends up, like the article states, with the person or persons making the choice at the very last possible moment so they can make sure they’ve heard every possible path they can take.

-- I don’t always want choices.*All quotes in this and the following six slides are in response to an HGR English class assignment asking incoming

freshman students to comment to the article “Millennial Behaviors and Demographics,” Richard Sweeney (2006).

Comments From HGR StudentsAbout impatience and instant gratification:--If I don’t understand a homework problem right away, I

get frustrated and rush through it, hoping it ends up being right, instead of taking the time and effort to actually sit down and figure it out.

--I also hate waiting for anything; my laptop is brand new and I find it way too slow for me.

--Whenever I take tests, I get very impatient about knowing the results, and when doing homework I get frustrated if I do not reach an answer right off the bat.

Comments From HGR StudentsAbout multi-tasking:

--I can’t think of a time where I haven’t multi-tasked while doing homework, watching TV, or even texting.

--We developed a very short attention span for other activities since we’re so used to switching from one task to the other. Consequently, we prioritize our activities based on enjoyment level.

--I find myself multi-tasking constintly (sic) while being successful while doing so.

--I dislike multitasking and find that I learn faster when I can focus all of my attention on one subject.

Comments From HGR StudentsAbout communication:

--I have more conversations through text messaging and instant messaging than I do in person.

--I want to know everything instantly. I do not like the anxiety of not instantly knowing if I am being successful at school.

--I cannot be separated from a means of communication ever.

--I cannot go anywhere without my phone.

Comments From HGR StudentsAbout how they prefer to learn:

--In most cases I cannot do my homework or study without listening to music, texting or writing people on Facebook.

--The way we learn is going to be different than past generations. Instead of reading a text book for hours, we learn best by interaction.

--I would love classes like video games. If they could make a video game that was fun over English grammar or chemistry nomenclature I think grades would dramatically increase.

--I learn better through visual/audio media education.

--I prefer doing printed work.

Comments From HGR StudentsOther comments :

--I especially identify with the idea that Millennials believe that they are all above average, and to be average is to be mediocre.

--We are so used to constantly being productive in one way or another that if we aren’t constantly in motion we feel like we are lagging.

--(This) article is accurate about our generation in general and doesn’t pertain as much to the students attending this school.

Hit the Ground Running Survey* (n=111; 1= Disagree, 5= Fully Agree)

Q3 - I am very likely to multi-task while studying or doing homework (texting, watching TV, Facebooking)

Q4 – I believe I can study just as effectively while multi-tasking as I can while doing homework without other activities

*112 HGR students surveyed at the end of the summer session.

Minimum1

Maximum5

Mean3.40

Std. Deviation1.309

Minimum 1

Maximum5

Mean 2.56

Std. Deviation 1.188

Hit the Ground Running Survey(n=111; 1= Disagree, 5= Fully Agree)

Q3 - I give up pretty easily if I can’t figure something out right away

Q4 – I know how to cope and rebound when I fail at something

Minimum1

Maximum5

Mean2.14

Std. Deviation .999

Minimum2

Maximum5

Mean3.78

Std. Deviation: .938

Hit the Ground Running Survey(n=110)

Q8 – My attention span during a lecture class is approximately1.Less than 10 minutes2.10-15 minutes3.20-30 minutes4.35-45 minutes5.More than 45 minutes

Minimum1

Maximum5

Mean3.36

Std. Deviation1.064

Thoughts on Working With Millennials

Expectations made explicit Boundaries and behavior modeled for them (by

instructors, older students) Consistent enforcement of policies Structure, especially for younger students Input into the guidelines of the class Choices in learning experiences Connections made between current classwork and

future careers (rationale for what they are learning) Hands-on activities; real-life applications Regular low-stakes assessment and feedback Early intervention and consequences Instructors that they perceive as fair and flexible