ASCUE 2006

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ASCUE 2006

• Educating the Net Generation
• Are you ready for todays learner?
• David Fusco - Director of Technology Operations
  Assistant Professor of IT

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Goals of This Presentation
Goals of this Presentation

• Net Gen Demographics
• Background of who they are
• Todays Learners
• Whos coming next?
• What can we do?

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• Net Gen Demographics

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The Net Generation
The net Generation

• Born in or after 1982
• Gravitate toward group activity
• 8 out of 10 say its cool to be smart
• Focused on grades and performance
• Busy with extracurricular activities
• Identify with parents values feel close to
  parents
• Respectful of social conventions and institutions
• Fascination for new technologies
• Racially and ethnically diverse

?Howe Strauss, 2003
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
5
Net Gen Experience Base
Net Gen Experience Base

• They have never been able to find the return
  key
• Photographs have always been processed in an hour
  or less
• Gas has always been unleaded
• MTV doesnt always play music
• Dont understand why some call their jump drive a
  floppy
• Dont know their dorm room phone
• Dont refer to web pages as http//www.
• Whats a phone book? Or a stamp?

? Beloit College, 2003, 2004
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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What other Technologies can/do they access?
What other technologies do they have access to?

• Cable or satellite TV
• Videos, DVDs, CDs, Video games
• Graphing calculators
• Cell phones
• Text messaging, Internet access
• Digital and/or video camera
• Calculator, alarm clock, stop watch
• Distinct ring tones, skins
• Ipods, MP3 players, phones w/ players

? Beloit College, 2003, 2004
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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How technology has shaped their view of the world
How technology has shaped their view

• They want it NOW
• They want it IN COLOR
• They want INTERACTIONS
• They are used to MULTITASKING
• They expect YOU (the instructor) to understand
  the technology
• They may not know how it works

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
8
They want it NOW
They want it NOW

• They expect technology to be UBIQUITOUS
• Instant access to course materials
• Fast-loading graphics
• Instant feedback
• Email response
• Assignment/quiz grading
• Instant answers
• Google, Wikipedia, other online resources
• Instant access to student services
• Online registration
• Online grades

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
9
They want it in color
They want it in COLOR

• PowerPoint presentations
• With all the bells and whistles
• Graphics (i.e. Flash animations)
• Videos, DVDs, Video games
• Interactive learning materials

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
10
They want INTERACTIONS
They want INTERACTIONS

• They communicate with peers frequently using
  email, text messaging, instant messaging, cell
  phones, chat rooms
• Friends and associates
• Online friends
• Complete strangers
• Classmates

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
11
They are used to MULTITASKING
They are used to MULTITASKING

• They dont sit quietly to do homework
• Can do homework, surf the net, IM friends, chat
  on the phone, and watch TV all at the same time
• They respond well to the use of more than one
  mode of delivery at a time
• Neuroplasticity- their brains are flexible
  because theyve been flexed
• Use more than one method of delivery to enhance
  retention

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
12
They expect YOU to understand the technology
They expect YOU to understand technology

• They never experienced life before computers
• They used it in high school, if not sooner
• They are fast learners when it comes to figuring
  out how to use technology
• but
• They may not understand how it works
• Rely on others for troubleshooting
• If something doesnt work, they will hit the
  PANIC button (SEND) and email you for help

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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• Background of who they are

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Products of Their Environments
Products of their environment

• Baby
• Boomers
• TV generation
• Typewriters
• Memos

• Generation
• X
• Video games
• Computers
• Email

• Net Gen
• The Web
• Mobile devices
• IM
• Text Messaging
• Online communities

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
15
Profile of a Juniata Student (Rhodes, IA Survey,
Fall 2005)

• Computer usage in years - 3-5 13 6-10
  60 gt10 26
• Use of Internet in years - 3-5 30 6-10
  63 gt10 5
• Word processing in years - 3-5 25 6-10
  64 gt10 9
• E-mail in years - 3-5 51 6-10 38
• Have you created a PowerPoint presentation? 89
  yes
• Have you created a web page? 71 no

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Profile of a Juniata Student (Rhodes, IA Survey,
Fall 2005)

• CMS experience? 72 no
• Computer at home? 98 yes
• Access to Internet at home? 97 yes
• Used library resources before? 68 yes
• What type of computer are you bringing? (96
  total)
• notebook or laptop 71 tablet 1.4
• tower 16 none 4 unsure about style 7

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• Todays Learners

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Todays Learners
Todays learners

• Digitally literate
• Mobile
• Always on
• Experiential
• Social

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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Multitasking while online
Listen to radio while online
Watch TV while online
Talk on phone while online
Visit a site mentioned by someone on the phone
Send IM to person youre talking to
Visit website seen on TV
Visit website heard on radio
0
80
60
40
20
100
Base Kids 13-17
Percentage
Grunwald, 2004
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Student in-class preferences
Student In-class preferences
?Kvavik, 2004
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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Age vs. online preference
Students who were very satisfied with Web-based
or mixed mode learning by generation
?Dziuban, 2004
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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• Whos coming next?

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In High Schools

• Cradle-to-grave use of e-portfolios
• Not expert users laptop as a tool
• Sense of entitlement to Internet access any
  interruption is a violation of their rights
• Prefer Internet research to library research
• Are exposed to problem-based
  learning, collaboration and
  computers in the classroom

Backon, et al. 2003
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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Teens web use

• 100 use the Internet to seek
  information on colleges, careers and
  jobs
• 74 of teens use IM as a major
  communication vehicle vs. 44 of
  online adults
• 54 of students (grades 7-12) know more IM screen
  names than home phone numbers
• The Internet is a primary communication tool
• 81 email friends and relatives
• 70 use instant messaging to keep in touch
• 56 prefer the Internet to the telephone

Lenhart, Simon Graziano, 2001 NetDay, 2003
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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What kids want from the net
Grunwald, 2003
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• What can we do?

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Challenges presented by the Net Generation
Challenges presented by the net generation

• We are not of the Net Generation
• Our college experiences were very different
• Classrooms and workspaces may not meet the needs
  of the Net Generation
• Technology-enhanced, informal classrooms and
  workspaces
• Technology changes rapidly
• Lifelong learning a must

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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Are you a Net Gen type?
Are you a net gen type?

• How do you write most documents? long-hand or at
  a keyboard?
• Are you constantly connected? Laptop? PDA? Cell
  phone?
• How many windows are typically open on your
  computer?
• Are you a multitasker?
• Do you play video or computer games?
• Do you download music?
• Does your cell phone have a camera?
• Do you prefer immediate responses or are you
  content to wait?

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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Balance between old / new
Students expect faculty to have in-depth
knowledge of their field I want my professor
to know as much as there is so I can learn as
much as I can in 15 weeks. Faculty should be
able to use technology effectively I like to
access a syllabus, course assignments and
handouts on the Internet. This helps me organize
my schedule and lets me prepare for
class. Dont overuse PowerPoint, the Internet
or videos PowerPoint is to provide power to a
particular point. It doesnt mean putting the
entire class on slides
?Roberts, 2004
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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Balance between old / new

• Be engaging challenge us ask questions show
  that you are excited about the subject
• Be responsive voice/email office hours still
  matter
• Be seen wed like to see you and get to know
  you outside of class
• Set boundaries tell us when youre available
• Use real world, relevant examples
• Not everything needs to be on the Web

?Roberts, 2004
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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Adding not replacing
Blended communication
?Roberts, 2004
Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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Face-to-face classroom tips
Face-to-face classroom tips

• PowerPoint-enhanced lectures
• With sound and animation
• Rearrange classroom to facilitate collaborative
  learning and the use of technology
• Active learning
• Supplement online
• Post gradebook, PowerPoints, other materials
  from class

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
33
Teaching online tips
Teaching online tips

• Net generation prefer web-enhanced or hybrid
  courses to totally online
• Learn the technology
• Take a few courses
• Learn the student perspective
• Take a few online courses
• Stay connected through frequent communication
  with students
• Respond to emails
• Timely feedback and grading
• Provide online tutorials to show how to use the
  technology used in the course

Courtesy of D. Oblinger
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Whats Changed at Juniata?
Whats changed at Juniata?

• Wireless Residence halls, Academic buildings,
  most administrative buildings
• Increased use of cell phone / decreased use of
  in-room phones (students)
• Storage increase SAN and DAM
• Facebook / Myspace use
• Internet Capacity 30 Mbps
• Smart Classrooms more than 55 in use
• Digital Video growth huge
• Gaming (students) dedicated Internet pipe space

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Whats Changed at Juniata?
Whats changed at Juniata?

• Students want it like home
• Internet
• Cell coverage
• CATV
• Heightened security awareness
• Network registration (students)
• MyJuniata application
• The Arch / WebAdvisor / Juniatas Portal
• IT as a marketing tool

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Questions???

• References
• Diane and James Oblinger's Excellent Book and
  PowerPoint
• General Education Review Committee, University of
  Arizona
• Laura May, Mesa Community College