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Restless - check. Short attention span, indifferent - check. If you’re bewildered, don’t be. It’s just that you’re dealing with students of the new millennium. If you want to reach them, you’ll have to update your teaching strategies.
Generation Y, Who?
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Gen Y students are from the "Net" or "Millennium" generation, born between 1980 and 1999. They are also called Generation Y-ers. Here’s how to spot them:
1. They Are Techno-savvy
They didn’t just grow up with technology. They’re intimate with technology and they’re good at it!
2. They Have Short Attention Spans
Imagine getting what you need all with a click of the mouse. In just one second. Now, do you understand why Gen Y-ers get impatient easily?
3. They Consume and Filter Information Quickly
Gen Y students are confronted and inundated with information from various sources at every turn. If they don't think the information you present applies, they immediately switch off.
4. They Multitask Well
Because Gen Y-ers grew up with technology, they’re adept at multitasking. They can chat online, do homework, watch TV and listen to music all at the same time.
5. They Want It. Now.
Gen Y-ers grew up in a competitive and materialistic society with both parents working. Most have only known good economic times and until recently, never experienced an economic downturn. They’ve all the material goodies on hand - cell phones, iPod, money in their pockets, clothes, computers. Anything they want, they expect to get. Fast.
Five Strategies for teaching Gen Y students
1. Keep Up The Pace
Because Gen Y-ers are used to getting information fast, they’ll get bored if you take too long to explain. Pace your lesson fairly quickly. Check faces, body language and direct questions for clues to your speed. Keep your summaries short and to the point.
2. They’re The Experts, You’re The Guide
Anything they want to know, they can Google for themselves. Educators used to teach students facts and information but in today’s world, information is all around us. Our role is to be a guide and help the kids think for themselves.
3. Keep it Short and Sweet
Gen Y-ers get bored easily and have short attentions spans. Keep your topics short, to the point, and use relevant examples. Your teaching activities need to be interesting enough to catch their attentions. Ask yourself what’s the simplest way to get your learning points across.
4. Don't Get (Too) Offended At Their Multitasking
If you see your Gen Y students chatting online or texting as you’re presenting, remember that multitasking is second nature to them. It could mean you’re taking too long to make your point or they don’t find what you say relevant. Sometimes, they’re just Googling something you mentioned seconds ago.
5. Be Techno-savvy
They grew up with numerous TV channels, MTV and video games. Visuals, audio and music appeal to Gen Y-ers more than traditional teaching methods. So, make technology work for you. Take your pick - Youtube, blogs, instant messaging, Wikis, Twitter and more. Your Gen-Y students will respect you for being able to keep up with them.
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EduBuzz 