Unique challenge of simultaneously educating Millennial, Gen-X, and Baby-Boomer students brings advantages and challenges to on-ground and online classrooms. Understanding the uniqueness of each generation, and how to facilitate a multigenerational learning environment, is vital to faculty and student success.
Andragogic Strategies to Teaching Multiple Student Generations in One Classroom
1. Andragogic Strategies
Teaching Multiple Student Generations in One
Classroom
Eugene Kaufman
Lead Faculty, Area Chair, Faculty Mentor
University of Phoenix
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2015
2. Let’s get started!
If you are a
Baby Boomer
Please take out your
notebook and pen
If you are a
Gen X’er
Please turn on your
tablet or laptop, and
open the note taking
app
If you are a
Millennial
You probably came
with just your iPhone,
so borrow some paper
and a pen from a Baby
Boomer.
(They probably
brought extra for you,
just in case!)
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3. Defining the generations
Baby Boomers:
1940 to 1964
Generation X:
1965 to 1979
Millennials:
1980 to 2004
Alpha:
2005 to 2030
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4. Judging the generations
In 30 seconds, describe
the following generation
using single words:
• Baby Boomers
(1940 to 1964)
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6. Judging the generations
In 30 seconds, describe
the following generation
using single words:
• Generation X
(1965 to 1979)
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8. Judging the generations
In 30 seconds, describe
the following generation
using single words:
• Millennials
(1980 to 2004)
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10. What makes a generation?
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11. Introducing… the Baby Boomer
Students
• End of Great Depression
• WWII
• Rise of USSR
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• March on Washington
• President Kennedy assassinated
Major
historical
events
(1940-
1964)
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12. Generational Values
Don’t trust authority (especially Uncle Sam!)
Equal rights means undoing the social wrongs
Overcome difficulties by being an optimist
Work hard and be responsible
Help (only) those who wish to help themselves
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13. In the Classroom
Work Ethics
• Driven
• Hard working
Technology
• Learned
Authority
• To be tested, then
respected
Entitlement comes with
• Experience
Key to workplace success
• Visibility
Work/Life Balance
• Work priority
Fun fact: Over 2 million Baby Boomers went back to college between
1997 and 2006, an increase of 20% (US News & World Report, 2007)
14. • Long hours, if
needed
• Loyalty to team
• Hard work is
paramount to
successful life
• Respect
• Contribution
• Ability to shine
• Overcoming
challenges
Values
•Career can
be an
exciting
adventure
•Career leads
to fulfilling
retirement
Work after
graduation
as a
function of
life
In the Classroom
15. Introducing… the Generation X
Student
• Los Angeles (Watts) riots
• Vietnam War
• Mom goes to work
• Dual income families
• Latchkey kids
• Divorce rate explosion
• Single parent explosion
• Hard-drug use explosion
• End of Cold War
Major
social
events
(1965
-
1979)
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2015
16. Generational Values
Education is key to success
High job expectations
Loyalty to people, not organizations
Control over all elements of life
Ignore leaders
Self-reliance, high ethical standards
Cynicism
Self-starters / Independent
Suspicious of Baby Boomers
17. Work
Ethics
Work
smart,
not hard
Technology Literate
Authority
To be
always
tested
Entitlement
comes with:
Merit
Workplace
success
depends on:
Productivity
Work/Life
Balance
Vital (work
to live)
Fun fact: Students age 35 or older represented 17.9% of college
graduates in 2011 (US Census Bureau, 2013)
In the Classroom
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19. Introducing… the Millennial
Students
• MTV
• PC goes mainstream
• Internet goes mainstream
• 9/11, school shootings
• Children of divorce or single
parents
• Facebook and social media
• iPhone and the ultra-connectivity
• First children with schedules and
daycare
• Road towards the Great Recession
Major
social
events
(1980
-
2004)
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22. Entitlement
comes with:
Contribution
to the core
Workplace
success
depends on:
Contribution
value
Work/Life
Balance
Natural
Fun fact: Millennials represent 33% of the workforce (Gallup, 2013).
In the Classroom
23. Values
Self confidence
Flexibility in all
aspects of work
Tolerance
Diversity of
ideas
Experimentation
Collaboration
Training and
growth
Mentors
Family over
work
Work after
graduation as a
function of life
What you do
between
your days off
What you do
to pay the
bills
In the Classroom
24. Faculty Classroom Management Style
Baby Boomers
Lead through
consensus
Don’t like
being
challenged
Authority
matters
Generation X
Lead through
knowledge
Challenge me
and be ready
to be
challenged
Everyone is
equal; I just
happen to
know more
Millennials
Lead through
ability
All that I know
will be used to
mentor others
We are
friends, not
adversaries
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25. Student Subordination Style
Baby Boomers
Respect me
Don’t
criticize me
Recognize
my skill and
hard work
Don’t like
change
Generation X
Respect what
I do
Correct me
Reward my
skill and
hard work
Change is
good
Millennials
Respect who I
want to be
Mentor me
Support my
skill and hard
work
Change is the
natural state
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26. Student Collaboration Style
Baby Boomers
Teamwork
Follow
directions
Leaders lead
and followers
follow
Individuals
make the
team work
Generation X
Individuals
working
together
Directions are
suggestions
Leaders are the
followers
Teams work
best when
everyone works
independently
Millennials
Collaboration
Want
continuous
feedback
Leaders are
there to
inspire
Individualism
destroys team
success
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27. Basic Principles of Andragogy
Need to
know
Predefined
self-
concept
Prior
experience
Limitations
to learning
Knowledge
must be
relevant
Motivation
is external
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2015
28. Andragogic Strategies for
Administrators
Train faculty to have “generational
awareness”
Have faculty self-assess their own
Classroom Management Style
During faculty meetings, have roundtable
discussions on how to deal with multi-
generations of students in one classroom
Make sure course assignments are
relevant to all generations of student
@ACBSPAccredited #ACBSP2015
29. Andragogic Strategies for Faculty
Avoid assignments that rely more on
being able to use a particular technology
than being able to do the assignment
After establishing student teams, play the
Team Member Expectations Game
Make your students aware of the benefits
of being part of a multigenerational
and/or multicultural team
If possible, require every member of the
student team be a leader for a
week/assignment
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