College Success
for the New Millennial Generation
Dr. Marsha Fralick
Overview
Generational
Who
differences
are the New Millennials?
Eight
generational norms
Education
Engaging
for the 21st Century
the New Millennials
This is a Test: Which
Generation?

Lacks motivation
 Is overly idealistic
 Lacks work ethic
 Uses drugs
 Wants to be free from societal restrictions
 Searches for personal meaning
 Wants to choose their own way
 Is defined by personal dress
 Embraces diversity
 Wants to save the world
The 60’s
Generation
The Radio Generation
• 1900-1946
• Experienced the Great Depression, World
War II, Pearl Harbor
• Traditionalists
• Respect for authority
• Heroes: Superman, Babe Ruth
Values: The Radio Generation
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Traditional puritan ethics
Financial Security
Teamwork
Sacrifice and hard work
Delayed gratification
Family
Authority
Social Order
The TV Generation
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1946-1964 The Baby Boomers
Born into postwar affluence
Parents wanted them to have a better life
Cold war, civil rights, space race,
assassinations, Vietnam war
Watched TV 24 hours a week
Questioned authority (Don’t trust anyone over
30)
Hung out at burger joints
Heroes: The Kennedys, John Lennon
Values: The TV Generation
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Questioned traditional puritan ethics
Self-fulfillment
Material wealth (as they got older)
Individualism
Change
Nonconformity
Against the rules
Challenge the system
Fight for a cause
The Internet Generations
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Generation X 1965-1977
New Millennials 1978-1995
Struggling economy
Columbine, terrorists, Bombing of World
Trade Center
On the Internet 24 hours a week
Yes we can!
Hang out online
Heroes: Parents, Bill Gates,
musicians and actors
Values: The Internet Generation
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Tolerance of diversity
Technology is a tool for multi-tasking
Relationships and family
Optimism
Civic duty
Confidence
Sociability
Morality
View of Technology
• Radio Generation
What is it? What will they think of next?
• Baby Boomers
Master it!
• Internet Generations
Enjoy it.
Use it.
What Comes Next?
 Hippies
 Yuppies
 Zippies
Introduce yourself.
Where are you in the technology
continuum?
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Radio Generation before 1946
Baby boomer 1946-1964
Generation X 1965-1977
New Millennials 1978-1995
How much technology did you use in college?
New Millennials
• Our current college students were born after
1992
• Most were born with a computer in the home
and were using them by age 5
• The connected generation
• 82% are online daily
• Average 12 hours per week online
Use Technology to Connect
• 50% send or receive
a text message daily
• 29% use instant
messages daily
• 44% have a profile on
Facebook or
MySpace and 38%
use them daily
(from Pew Research)
Could they be
the smartest
generation ever?
What happens to the brain
when you play video games?
• Highly developed spatial skills useful for
architects, engineers and surgeons
• Faster processing of visual information
• Better hand-eye coordination
• Video games teach people to work in
teams, learn and collaborate and
discover.
Some Facts from Pew
Research
• They are generally happy with their lives
and optimistic about the future
• Unique appearance
54% have tattoos, hair dyed an unnatural
color or body piercings other than ear
lobes
• Their top goals are fame and fortune
Maintain Close Contact with
Family
• 82% talked with a parent yesterday
• 45% speak by phone with parents daily
• 75% say parents helped them financially
in the last year
• 64% got help from parents to run errands,
help with housework or home repairs in
the last year
Dad
Father Knows Best!
Hierarchy
Mom
Kid #1
Kid #2
Kid #3
Kid #4
In 1960, 40% of teens said they would be
better off without parents!
Family Organization Chart for Baby Boomers
Grandparents
Parents
Democracy
Kid
Helicopter Parents
Stepparents
Family Chart for New Millennials
Use Technology to Connect
• 50% send or receive a text message daily
• 29% use instant messages daily
• 44% have a profile on Face Book or My
Space and 38% use them daily
Technology: The Benefits
• Makes people more efficient
• Makes you closer to friends and family
• Makes it easier to make new friends
What are some disadvantages of using so
much technology?
These New Millennial students are
now being called Generation “E”
What does the “E” stand for?
New Millennials or
Generation E
• 18-30 years old
• Empowered
• Entitled
• Electronic
– Leading change from
paper to electronic media
Share your observations
about the New Millennial
Generation.
Think
Pair
Share
A Vision of Students Today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o
What problems do New
Millennial Students face in
college today?
Why do so many drop out?
Eight Norms
The New Millennial
Generation
1. Freedom to Choose
What to buy
When to do things
Where to work
What and how to learn
Learning any time, any place
Be what you want to be
Yes, we can!
Example in Education
2. Customization
• Change it to fit your needs
– Cell phones
– TiVo
• Education that matches learning style
Example in Education
3. Scrutiny
• Use the Internet to search for information
before they buy a product.
• Read blogs, forums and reviews and
consult friends through Facebook
• Is it worth it?
• Is it relevant to my life?
Example in Education
4. Integrity
• Because of information available on the
Internet they are aware of scandals,
corruption and dishonesty.
• They want to make the world a better
place.
• They can make a difference in the world.
• They spend time on things that are
important to them.
Example in Education
Designing Education for the
21st Century
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Choice
Customization
Value
Integrity
Discuss some ideas.
Write some intention
statements about some
new ideas you are
willing to try.
5. Collaboration
• They are the connected generation.
• They collaborate in chat groups, play
multi-user video games and share files.
• Enjoy social interaction use technology
as a tool to connect.
• Prefer to learn and work in teams.
Example in Education
6. Entertainment
• They want life to be fun, including school
and work.
• Education should be interesting.
• Contrast with the baby boomer idea of
working first and they relaxing and having
fun.
• Learn by doing.
Example in Education
7. Speed
• They expect instant response
– Instant messaging
– Text messaging
• Multi-tasking
Example in Education
8. Innovation
• Innovation is occurring rapidly.
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Cell Phones
iPad
Laptops
New media
• Learn through discovery.
Example in Education
Designing Education for the
21st Century
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Collaboration
Fun
Speed
Innovation
Discuss some ideas. Write
some intention statements
about some new ideas you
are willing to try.
Education was designed for the
industrial age.
• The emphasis was on mastering a set
amount of knowledge.
• Teachers lectured, students took notes
and memorized the material to pass the
tests.
Today we have many students who are
disinterested and unsuccessful in school. Why
doesn’t this model fit for the 21st Century?
Education for the 21st Century
From Teacher Focused
• The Teacher Is the Source of Knowledge
• Lecture
• Content Is the Same for All
To Student Focused
• The Internet Is the Source of Knowledge
• Interact, Lead, Discover
• Learn how to learn
Education for the 21st
Century
• It is not what you know that counts. It is
what you can learn.
• Need skills to deal with rapid change.
• Customize education to fit learning style
• Encourage collaboration
Education for the 21st Century
• Students need to process new
information quickly and think creatively,
critically and collaboratively.
• They still need to master the basics of
reading, math and science.
Engaging New Millennial Students in
Learning
Part II