MILLENNIALS & TECHNOLOGY
THE BASICS
Currently, the Largest GenerationThey are the 2nd Largest Generation in the
history of the worldThey account for 1/3 of the World’s Population
They account for 1/4 of the US Population
UNDERGRADS @ JWU
National Center for Educational Statistics
BEHAVIORS & TECHNOLOGY
I. More Choices, More SelectivityExpect a greater array of products and services
available to them
Sweeny, R. (2006)
Image: Indiana University
Image: Kent State
Image: Casablanca Island @ JWU
II. Experiential & Exploratory LearnersStrongly prefer learning by doing
Sweeny, R. (2006)
Image: MPCFaculty
Image: SPedChange
III. Flexibility & ConveniencePrefer to keep time & commitments flexible in
order to take advantage of a better option if it comes along.
Expect faculty and the institution to give them more flexibility
Sweeny, R. (2006)
IV. Personalization & CustomizationExpect products/services to allow for as much
personalization & customization features as possible to meet their changing needs & interests
Sweeny, R. (2006)
V. ImpatienceZERO tolerance for delaysExpect services instantly when they are readyRequire constant feedback on their progress
Sweeny, R. (2006)
Image: CampusTechnology.com
Image: GCBB Creative Commons Flickr
RISD President: John Maeda Twittering
VI. MultitaskersThink that they excel at juggling multiple tasks at
once
Sweeny, R. (2006)
VII. Poor ResearchersAssume everything is available “online” aka
GOOGLEUtilize poor research techniques & strategies
Sweeny, R. (2006)
foundations of business at johnson and wales university
how to mla cite google book search
address for harborside johnson & wales
blueprint of johnson and wales university
contemporary issues in sports at jwu providence
create a johnson and wales unviersity email
directions to jwu culinary campus on the harbor sid
VIII. Nomadic/MOBILE CommunicatorsUtilize a variety of communication methods but
prefer synchronous digital methods such as IM & Text-messaging
Prefer to receive service un-tethered ->anytime/anywhere
Pull information to any device ->anytime/anywhere
Sweeny, R. (2006)
Stanford University iPhone Apps
Georgia Tech: GT Login
IX. CollaborationEntire education experience has involved some
form of group work
Sweeny, R. (2006)
Google Docs & Spreadsheets Presentation
X. Late AdoptersVery comfortable with technologies they use
currently and won’t try new technologies until everyone else (their peers) are using them
Sweeny, R. (2006)
ANY QUESTIONS?
Technology Discussed
• Meebo• YouTube• CamStudio• PBWiki• Google Docs & Spreadsheets• Jing• Zoho
References• Allen, E., & Seamen, J. (2008). Staying the Course: Online Education in the U.S.
Retrieved May 9, 2009, from Sloan Consortium: http://www.sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/pdf/staying_the_course.pdf
• BizEd. (2007). More students choosing online Ed. BizEd , 59.• Blauch, D. (2005, October 12). Chemistry Experiments & Exercises. Retrieved May
8, 2009, from Chemistry @ Davidson: http://www.chm.davidson.edu/ChemistryApplets/index.html
• DuVall, B., Powell, M. R., Hodge, E., & Ellis, M. (2007). Text Messaging to Improve Social Presence in Online Learning. Retrieved May 9, 2009, from Educause Quarterly: http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/TextMessagingtoImproveSocialPr/161829
• Oblinger, D., & Oblinger, J. (2006). Is it age or IT: First steps toward understanding the net generation. CSLA Journal , 8-16.
• Retrieved May 8, 2009, from SlideShare: http://www.slideshare.net/jdellavolpe/socialsphere-sungard-pres-bkey
References• Parry, M. (2009, May 13). Stanford U. Experiments With Open Office Hours
on Facebook. Retrieved May 19, 2009, from The Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/3769/stanford-u-experiments-with-open-office-hours-on-facebook
• Skiba, D., & Barton, A. (2006). Adapting your teaching to accommodate the net generation of learners. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing , 15.
• Sweeney, R. (2006, December 22). Millennial Behaviors & Demographics. Retrieved May 8, 2009, from New Jersey Institute of Technology Library: library1.njit.edu/staff-folders/sweeney/Millennials/Article-Millennial-Behaviors.doc
• Tucker, P. (2006). Teaching the Millennial Generation. The Futurist , 7.• Volpe, J. D. (March, 21 2009). Millennials: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow.
Retrieved May 8, 2009, from SlideShare: http://www.slideshare.net/jdellavolpe/socialsphere-sungard-pres-bkey