Dr Manasvi M. Kamat
Generation Y (Gen Y) follows Generation X, precedes Generation Z and is the demographic cohort born between the years 1981- 1996. Author Elwood Carlson in his book The Lucky Few: Between the Greatest Generation and Baby Boom referred to this generation as ‘Baby Boomers’ while American sociologist Kathleen Shaputis likes to call them ‘Peter Pan’ gen. Gen Y is also referred in contemporary literature with alternate names as ‘Generation We’, ‘Global Generation’, ‘Gen Next’, ‘Net Generation’ and ‘Burnout Generation’. Authors William Strauss & Neil Howe are credited with calling them ‘Millennials’ and in 1987 were the first to identify their prospective link to high school graduating class
of 2000.
Later they wrote about this in their books, Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069 and Millennials Rising: Next Great Generation published in 1991 and 2000 respectively. In 2011, Newsweek used the term ‘Generation 9/11’ to refer to this people who were between the ages of 10-20 years during the terrorist acts of 11 September 2001. In 2013, Time ran a cover story titled Millennials: Me Me Me Generation.
The Pew Research Center reported that Gen Y are detached from institutions and more networked with friends. Some researches characterise them as lovers of self-image, who consider wealth as an important attribute, one who are not abreast of political affairs, are socially conscious, realistic, confident, team-oriented, conventional, and pressured. At work, these people expect close relationships and frequent feedback from supervisors. They are believed to have a preference for a team-oriented environment as they look for versatility and flexibility and strive for a strong work“life balance in their jobs.
Gen Y use technology at higher rates than people from other generations. They were the first to grow up with computers and more glued to social networking sites to make acquaintances and remain connected. Sharing information with their friends using instant messaging, taking notes on their tablets, studying from material on phones, surfing the net for their assignments, reading an online book rather than from a library, are some of their common trends.
They also demand higher use of technology by educators in their teaching-learning processes. Thus mere ‘knowledge’ of the teacher is not enough to educate Gen Y unless the teacher chooses a digital way of communicating that knowledge. Using short ‘you tube’ typed videos, creating ‘blogs’ to aid student reflection, making ‘whatsapp’ and ‘facebook’ groups to facilitate communication, and choosing media of ‘email’ and ‘messenger’ to send assignments is trendy for this generation students.
Gen Y demands the educator clearly establish for them a set of learning goals and a supportive environment. They desire more frequent updates and in-depth feedback backed with personalised guidance and mentoring. The challenge for an educator dealing with Gen Y is to create a transparent communication that is easily understood. For this teachers will have to constantly increase their skills, knowledge, capabilities.
It is believed that by 2020, Gen Y will constitute close to 50% of the working population. Educators must adapt to the needs of this gen to make them ‘career-ready’.
To aid the above objective Prof. Christy Price, teaching Psychology at the Dalton State College created her famous 5 Rsof engaging these millennial learners as using Research-based methods, Relevance, Rationale, Relaxed and Rapport for educators to create a millennial-centred learning environment.
Given that the Gen Y prefer a broad spectrum of learning strategies, educators must use ‘research-based’ learning materials that are delivered to cater to their visual, auditory and even kinaesthetic needs. Such material will make their learning intellectually stimulating. The ideal learning environment involves fewer lectures and more ‘group learning’. Gen Y are good at “googling” to discover information, and often seek to correct, crosscheck and revalidate the teacher calling for updated teacher providing research-based (evidence-based) and relevant learning instructions.
Gen Y don’t prefer an authoritarian teaching style and dislike following orders for the sake of complying with commands. Flexibility and recognizing the socio-emotional rationale behind new ideas and processes are their expectations. When trainers and instructors provide the ‘rationale’ behind policies and regulations in a learning environment, these young learners are more likely to respond positively.
Gen Y strive on ‘rapport’ and personal relationships as when they were raised they had complete attention from their parents. They are used to older adults showing more interest in their lives. Educators need appreciate the above and create a warm, empathetic, ‘no wrong answers’ collaborative environment.
Similarly millennials prefer a ‘relaxed’ learning environment with minimum pressure, more freedom to complete assignments, personal expression and creativity. They prefer instructors showing personal interest in their training, development plans and achievement goals. These learners also perform better at work and in the classroom when instructors connect with them on a personal level. In the real sense Gen Y don’t need teachers who will ‘teach’ them, but mentors who will aid their learning and guide them effectively and ethically. Needless to say, the challenge for educators is to adopt their teachingstyles to accommodate an entire new generationof learners in the future.
