Reaching Your Millenials A Fresh Look at Freshman Orientation

Toni Carter and Beverly SimmonsUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Who are the Millenials?

Birth dates Current ages

• Silents 1925–1942 65 – 82

• Baby Boomers 1943–1960 47 – 64

• Gen Xers 1961–1981 26 – 46

• Millennials 1982–2002 5 – 25

Note – this information is adapted from Creativity and Personalization: Freshman Orientation for the Millennial Generation. LOEX 2006 Conference.

Characteristics of Millenials

Characteristics of Millenials

• don’t like being passive recipients of information

• like trial and error (no fear of failure)

• like to learn from each other

• don’t like formal instruction

• like to be engaged and entertained

15-minute introduction

Groups use a class session to complete exercise in library

Class meets in library classroom

Freshman Seminar Outcomes

• Become comfortable asking questions in the library (put a friendly face on the library)

• Share ideas, get to know each other

• Learn where things are in the physical library

Design Goals

• More self directed

• Very little lecture

• Relaxed, informal

• Lots of student engagement and activity

New Class Outline

• Flipchart competition

• “Found items” competition

• LC Cards game

• “Face at the Desk” discussion

• Review

• Quiz

Self-Direction

Students make choices • Team name• Research topic

Very Little Lecture

Students teach each other• Flip-chart competition

Relaxed, Informal

Students are encouraged to participate, speak up, have fun – try to keep it informal and relaxed

Lots of Engagement and Activity

• Flip chart competition• “Found items” competition• Winning group gets “valuable” prizes

Activities promote student engagement

• LC card game• “Face at the desk” discussion

What students are saying…

“I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It wasn't boring at all.”

“It was really fun to be so early in the morning.”

“I enjoyed it and had a good time. It sure was better than actually being in class!!”

What’s Next?

• Assessment of learning outcomes

• Continuous refinement

• Evaluate the role of Freshmen Orientation within the overall library instruction program

Reaching Your Millenials A Fresh Look at Freshman Orientation

Toni-Carter@utc.eduBeverly-Simmons@utc.edu

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga