Understanding the Millennial
Learner and Engagement with
Technology
by: Jim Wright
Kennesaw State University
June 3, 2011
My goal is to stretch you
So, we understand a bit about
adult learners, but are our
students different?
Profiles of Generation M
This includes your K-12 students
and most KSU Interns
The Digital Native
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-project-overview-video
Do they multitask?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalna
tion/living-faster/split-focus/how-do-teens-dohomework-today.html?play
Essential Question:
What methods or techniques can
we use to increase student
engagement?
Can we teach with the phone?
Is there an app for that?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnat
ion/learning/schools/school-theres-an-app-forthat.html?play
Secretary of Education Duncan
But isn’t there a digital divide?
Minority Teens Close Digital Divide
with Mobile Web
Teens from low-income
households,
particularly AfricanAmericans, are much
more likely than other
teens to go online
using a cell phone.
Lenhart, Ling, Scott Campbell, and Kristen Purcell (2010). ‘”Teens and Mobile
Phones.” Pew Internet and American Life Project. Pew Research Center.
http://www.pewInternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx
Pew Research Center (2010)
• 44% of black teens and 35% of Hispanic
teens use their cell phones to go online,
compared with 21% of white teens.
• Social media like Facebook via phone
– 36% for Latinos
– 33% for blacks
– 19% for whites
(n = 800, ages 12 – 17)
Lenhart, Ling, Scott Campbell, and Kristen Purcell (2010). ‘”Teens and Mobile
Phones.” Pew Internet and American Life Project. Pew Research Center.
http://www.pewInternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx
What are they doing with their
phones?
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83% use their phones to take pictures.
64% share pictures with others.
60% play music on their phones.
46% play games on their phones.
32% exchange videos on their phones.
31% exchange instant messages on their phones.
27% go online for general purposes on their phones.
23% access social network sites on their phones.
21% use email on their phones.
11% purchase things via their phones.
Pew Research Center (2010)
So, we know the students are
technology users.
Can we leverage their usage
to increase student
engagement?
Activity: Whole group
discussion
Question: What ways can we
use technology to increase
student engagement?
Prezi
• http://prezi.com/zoidjousoeat/technologyfor-the-classroom/
Cell Phone Ideas
• Summarize Shakespeare by Text
• Calculate cell phone usage in dollars per
minute of talk time, or average their text
messaging habits?
• Student Produced Radio Show
• Audio podcast and mobile note-taking
resources (such as Gabcast, Gcast, Hipcast,
PrivatePhone)
• Photograph Biological Phenomena in
Everyday Life
Social Media to Teach
To Kill a Mockingbird
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitaln
ation/learning/literacy/friending-booradley.html?play
FREE Web2.0 Sites that Couple
with Cell Phones
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Mass Text Message Alerts:
Pulse.to
Cel.ly
Broadtexter
Wetxt
Sendgm
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Mobile Photosharing, video sharing,
slideshows and Posting to Web
Flickr
Photobucket
Dailybooth
Tumblr
Picassa Web (under Photo Settings--Upload by Email)
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Phonecall Recordings to Web
Google Voice
iPadio
Tumblr
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SMS Mobile Reviews and Quizzes
Mobiode
Study Boost
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Text Message Polling
Polleverywhere
Letsgovote
SMSpoll
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Avatars (phone recording to)
Voki
Blabberize
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Mobile Blogging (post to a blog via
SMS)
Blogger
Tumblr
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Mobile Internet Radio Show (broadcast
from phone call)
Blogtalkradio
Co-teaching Support
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Use Google docs to co-write lesson plans
Co-create presentations
Group use of spreadsheets
Skype or Google Video Chat
• Could we have a “master” technology
teacher come into your class and coteach?
See the Future
The potential of SixthSense technology
Pranav Mistry
http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_th
e_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_techno
logy.html
You have a choice
Hamster Video
http://bcoe.kennesaw.edu/video/getwiththis/
Questions
Activity: Paired discussion with your co-teacher
1. What generation are you? Is this different than your coteacher? Does your generational perspective impact your
teaching? Please discuss with your partner.
2. Describe ways you can create more engagement with your
students (Cobb and KSU)? How can technology be used
to facilitate and enhance this engagement?
3. In what ways will you integrate technology into your
planning, teaching, and assessment?
4. What skills and techniques do you need to integrate
technology into your classroom? What resources do you
need to make this happen?