Generational TheoryInsights to Better Understand
Each Other
Linlea Armstrong,
Medical Geneticist,
and Faculty Developer
Acknowledgements to Dr Hardwick, Dr Stogryn, Becky Hartley
Outline
1. The generational types
2. Formative changes and events
•Social
•Knowledge
•Technology
3. Application to teaching
Gen X’ers
The
Boomers
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/commodore64/id305504539?mt=8;
http://www.instructables.com/id/Rubiks-cube-chest-ofdrawers/
http://phbond.pbworks.com/w/page/
http://www.otrcat.com/z/father-knows-best.jpg
Social changes
•Family structure
•Commerce
•Formative events/ movements
feministezine.com
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=Lady+Gaga+and+Beyonce+-+Telephone&hl
theedwardians.blogspot.com
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=open+sunday+sign&hl
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=ferris+bueller&hl
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092359/
en.wikipedia.org
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=women%27s+liberation+movement&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1218&bih=631&tbm=isch&prmd=imvn
sb&tbnid=NAzz1E3ovbo2iM:&imgrefurl=http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2009/11/16/091116crbo_books_levy&docid=wspfTVneRuSDv
M&imgurl=http://www.newyorker.com/images/2009/11/16/p465/091116_r19025_p465.jpg&w=465&h=315&ei=22bIT4vsBaas2wWp_ITADQ&zoom=
1&iact=hc&vpx=906&vpy=318&dur=12157&hovh=185&hovw=273&tx=113&ty=83&sig=100733007922735649069&page=1&tbnh=95&tbnw=140&st
art=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0,i:111
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=challenger+explosion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadagood/3069451668/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadagood/3069451668/
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=recycle&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1218&bih=631&tbm=isch&prm
d=imvns&tbnid=WyH7H5yEjmOz2M:&imgrefurl=http://www.treesandtots.com/Making-Recycling-aFamily-Affairs/168.htm&docid=6mZKcOPwlanXTM&imgurl=http://www.treesandtots.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/kid
s%252520recycle.jpg&w=372&h=321&ei=WGjIT5ypNKLo2AX2M3wDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=432&vpy=269&dur=594&hovh=155&hovw=180&tx=133&ty=126&sig=
100733007922735649069&page=2&tbnh=138&tbnw=160&start=21&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:22,s:21,i:2
30
http://www.goog
le.ca/imgres?q=
father+knows+b
est&hl
imdb.com
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~library/biomed/about/pulse/pulse-apr-10.html?mswitch-redir=classic
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=latch+key+kid
http://www.google.ca/imgre
s?q=trophy&hl=en&client=s
afari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=12
18&bih=631&tbm=isch&pr
md=imvns&tbnid=CqJdrY2
dyhwRjM:&imgrefurl=
http://dbmerlin.de
viantart.com/art/P
eter-PanGeneration211506247
The Knowledge Explosion

David F. Hardwick
Knowledge
150
30
15
1
1900
1920
1940
1960
Decades
1980
2000
2020
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/84
74691/Fords-best-loved-models.html?image=1
Technology and communication
theedwardians.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gbaku/25133
20483/
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=
commodore+64&start=152&hl
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=Lady+Gaga+and+Beyonce+-+Telephone&hl
en.wikipedia.org
imdb.com
http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/tosce/images/ip_team.jpg&imgrefurl=http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/tosce/en/i
ndex.html&usg=__DTmy2SvDJSIhkQWWPAiXmiIJAsA=&h=200&w=776&sz=103&hl=en&start=15&sig2=_MLRGdefsgkealDH4K88A&zoom=1&tbnid=jtYCQnZ2wgk56M:&tbnh=37&tbnw=142&ei=GXW2T9iZK6KoiQK42cDHBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dinterpr
ofessional%2Bteam%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1
http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_
Values, motivations,
and effective learning support
imdb.com
Boomers
•
•
•
•
Give recognition ($$ and title)
Build rapport
Give respect
Communicate that they are valued and
needed
• Include them in meetings
• Address career advancement
Sandra E Gibson, 2009 Nursing Education Perspectives vol 30 no 1 p 37
Boomers
• Provide generous, positive
reinforcement and praise
• Focus on challenges
• Provide assignments for skill
development
• Provide flexibility in learning options
(e.g., learning contracts)
• Communicate primarily face to face
Sandra E Gibson, 2009
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=latch+key+kid
Gen Xers
•
•
•
•
Avoid unnecessary meetings
Speak quickly and directly, cut to the chase
Address the work/life balance
Give clear, direct explanations for changes
(especially extra work)
• Present specific information immediately
(email, chat rooms, instant messaging)
• Give them a piece of the task that they can do
‘Their way’
Sandra E Gibson, 2009
Gen Xers
• Provide short learning activities followed
by group interaction
• Provide short-term, challenging goals
• Use bullets to highlight important points
• Include online supplements
• Consider coaches or mentors
Sandra E Gibson, 2009
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=old+sc
hool&hl
Millennials
• Encourage creativity with technology
and reward
• Balance didactic and discovery activities
with opportunities to ask questions
• Present short and clear goals/objectives
• Use interactive sessions with
teams/groups
Sandra E Gibson, 2009
Millennials
• Allow them to have a voice in the plan (leave time for their
goals and ideas)
• Allow them to address work/life balance
• Let them ask questions
• Facilitate their collaboration with the team
• Present positive messages
• Allow them to have creative alternatives
• Voice clear expectations
• Provide structure
• Define roles
• Provide respect
Sandra E Gibson, 2009