Doug Tschopp
April 2013

The Past

What is a Generation?

What is new?

iGeneration

Baby Boomer Generation
 1946-1964

Generation X
 1965-1982

Millennials
 1982-2003

iGeneration
 2003+

Optimistic

Idealist

Communicative

Value good education

Influenced by technology

Desire instant gratification

Value family

Flexible

Diverse

Redefined tradition and religion

Influenced by the recession

Desire immediate gratification

Location in history

Beliefs and behaviors

Perceived membership
 Family Life
 Gender Roles
 Important Institutions
 Politics
 Religion
 Culture
 Lifestyle
 Views on the Future
(Howe and Strauss 2000)

Generations are becoming shorter

Why?

They have always lived in cyberspace,
addicted to a new generation of “electronic
narcotics.”

They can’t picture people actually carrying
luggage through airports rather than rolling
it.

Michael Jackson’s family, not the Kennedys,
constitutes “American Royalty.”

Probably the most tribal generation in
history, they despise being separated from
contact with their similar-aged friends.

They watch television everywhere but on a
television

Before they purchase an assigned textbook,
they will investigate whether it is available for
rent or purchase as an e-book.

Who They Are

How They Communicate

What the Future May Hold

Who are they?

What does the “I” represent”?

Internet-savvy

Comfortable with technology

Great multi-taskers or task switchers

Favor individualization and all things
customized

Of interest
 Nielsen Company (Educational Leadership 2011)
▪ The average teenager sends 3,399 texts a month
▪ 6 messages every hour that he or she is not
sleeping

Of interest
 Rewired: Understanding iGeneration and How
They Learn
▪ 35% of children ages 6mo to 3 years have TV in their
room
▪ 10% of children ages 4-8 have a computer in their
bedroom
▪ 51% of children ages 9-12 have cell phone

iGens hold more shopping
power
 Spending $239 billon annually
 Influential in family purchases
 Rely on parents for money
 “WWW”
▪ Whatever
▪ Whenever
▪ Where ever

Rewired: Understanding iGeneration and
How They Learn
 Early introduction to technology
 Adeptness at multitasking or switching tasks
 Desire for immediacy
 Ability to use technology to create a vast array of
content
Fears

Not getting good grades

Not having enough
money

Appearance
Hopes
A+ A+
A+ A+
A+ A+

Become a millionaire

Have positive impact on
society

37% of teens in the U.S.
have a smartphone.

Among teens with a
smartphone, however,
50% access the Internet
primarily via the mobile
device.

25% of those aged 12-17
access the Internet
"primarily" via a cell
phone or smartphone.

Girls are more likely than
boys to rely on their
smartphone as their
primary Internet access
device.

Pew Internet Teens and
Privacy Management
Survey
 July 26-September 30,
2012

Pew Internet and American Life Project 2011
 Use social networking sites such as Facebook,
Myspace, and Twitter
 Use video chat resources such as Skype or iChat
 Record and upload videos
What’s
Next?

Use technology to convey content

Utilize video outside of class

Free up time to analyze, synthesize and
assimilate material

Are we out of step?
Questions?