The Net Generation, more officially known as Generation Y, refers to the generation following Generation X. Individuals that pertain to this group were born between 1980 and 1992, and are children of Baby Boomers. The reason Generation Y is also defined as the Net Generation or First Digitals is that members of this cohort came of age during the digital revolution.

Characteristics of the Net Generation
Just like any of its preceding generations, this one is influenced by the important events, leaders, developments and trends of its time. Most notably, the proliferation of instant communication technologies (such as email, cell phone text messaging, instant messaging and social networking) has shaped Generation Y's character as a peer oriented, instant gratification-seeking age group.

In the workplace, this cohort is known as being driven by three core elements. The first one is impact. The net generation cares more than any other generation about making a difference. The second core element that drives this group in the workplace is communication. The new technologies that are ingrained in the lives of these young people have incited a need for constant communication and feedback. Finally, we have flexibility. More and more individuals that are part of Generation Y are shifting toward a home-based work environment in order to further achieve a work-life balance.

The Net Generation and Learning
So how does this group respond to a learning environment? What do they expect? Because the attitudes, aptitudes, expectations and learning styles of the Net Generation reflect the overall environment in which they came of age, they have a much different outlook than the faculty and administrators that are educating them. For example, most members of this new generation cannot recall a time when computers did not exist. By contrast, most professors at higher learning institutions learned to do library research through the card catalogue and the Dewey decimal system.

Fortunately, the gap is not impossible to overcome. Contrary to common assumptions, technology is not the most important component of a good educational experience for these young people. In fact, studies have shown that the Net Generation values the experience and dedication of the teacher, as well as his or her passion for the subject above all else.

That's not to say that technology doesn't play an important role, it's quite the contrary. Generation Y students have high expectations for the technology skills and knowledge of their professors. They don't only expect their teachers to be experts in their fields, committed to teaching and passionate about it, but they also expect that teachers will use technology effectively to communicate that expertise to students. Students want instructors to use technology in the classroom, but only if they can use it appropriately. For example, students agree that Powerpoint is a powerful tool to help instructors communication information, but they express frustration at teachers who overload slides with information.

Also, students in this generation don't necessarily want a classroom experience dominated by technology, but rather one that is balanced between teacher lectures and interactive participation.

Private schools in Toronto is an independent high school, offering a balanced curriculum from Pre-Kindergarten, school, Toronto independent high school through to University entrance.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 8th, 2009 at 9:26 pm and is filed under E-Learning. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.