GenY

=Communicating Better with Gen Y...= [|Gen Definitions] | [|Differences & Preferences] | [|Experiences] | [|Significance of video games] | [|Impact on Teaching & Learning]

=What "Gen" am I?= //* Image from **[|McCrindle Research]** brochure.//

And what is [|Generation Jones]?
Generation Jones is termed as the lost generation, between the Baby Boomers and Generation X. More info:


 * http://www.generationjones.com
 * http://www.jonathanpontell.com/aboutgenjones.htm
 * http://www.enquirer.com/editions/1999/11/12/loc_who_is_generation.html

=Is there really a Generation Gap?=

There has always been a generation gap, but is this one any different?
//"..in this future, teenagers and baby boomers will increasingly covet the same brands of jeans, drinks and cars - a future where parents become 'peerants'. Where music festivals will be filled with parents and their children moshing together".// You can read more about this prediction in this paper - [|In defence of Gen Y]
 * Researchers and futurists have documented predictions of the //fading// of the generation gap;**

Builders

 * A pioneering generation that built much of what is taken for granted today
 * The first generation to receive the label 'teenager'
 * They lived during the peak of the Industrial Revolution
 * They saw the extremes of the 'Roaring Twenties' and the 'Great Depression' and the First and Second World Wars
 * They are;
 * Dutiful - Service above self
 * Frugal - Waste not Want not
 * Stoic - Keep a stiff upper lip
 * Proper - Maintain decorum

Boomers

 * Boomers are very adaptable due to extreme lifestyle changes during their life time (we'll look at this more in detail below)
 * Boomers grew up hearing "Children should be seen and not heard", "Patience is a Virtue", "Good things come to those who wait"
 * This general started to question everything, this led to the period known as the 'Swinging 60's', they rejected 'tradition'
 * Life experience and an experimental existence help socially mature Baby Boomers realise that the younger generations have a lot to teach as well as a lot to learn.
 * They are;
 * Optimistic - The sky's the limit
 * Stylish - Enhancing status with brands
 * Assertive - strength in numbers
 * Afraid of aging - surgery!

Gen X

 * Generation X is ideally situated to 'bridge the gap".
 * Being the first generation to come home to an empty house, they have been named the 'Latch Key Generation', 'The Lost Generation. For this reason they are fiercely independent, they often place greater value on their circle of friends and their immediate community than on family.
 * They saw massively high divorce rates and consequently more complicated family relationships, high teen pregnancy and youth suicides
 * Experienced the threat of AIDS
 * They are;
 * Sceptical - Once bitten twice shy
 * Cynical - believe they've been robbed of prosperity and opportunity by the Boomer masses
 * Flexible - embracing change, technology growth (they are creative and innovative)
 * Pragmatic - Keep it real

Gen Y

 * Born into families that want to correct the parenting mistakes of past generations
 * Fashionable families - 'The decade of the child', stay at home Mum's becomes the desired role and pampered children are the result
 * Afforded every opportunity possible, full schedules
 * As Gen Y starts to hit the workforce, Baby Boomers realise that suddenly, there is a generation gap and they don't have a choice but to try and understand it and luckily, most of them want to.
 * Expect flexibility, freedom, more choices, feedback - Gen Y are the McDonalds generation, why should I wait in line for more than 5 minutes, I'm busy! I must be waiting for the wrong thing, I'll go somewhere else. They are the SMS generation. Why use 198 words when you can get away with 72? SMS language is now accepted in the HSC (except in English exams)
 * Gen Y are told "no" and ask "why?"
 * They don't take constructive criticism but respond well to praise. Praise them and they will ACHIEVE!
 * Gen Y demand authenticity. Keep it real, be honest.
 * It is expected that if this generation stay in their jobs for over 4 years, they are less employable. Are they not creative, innovative or ambitious?
 * Have you seen [|this video clip] by Peter Denahey?
 * They are;
 * Well educated - findings of the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling at the University of Canberra show that this generation is working and studying harder than the previous generation 15 years ago
 * Ambitious - 50% of full time Gen Y students are undertaking some kind of work compared to only 37% in 1989
 * Tolerant - smaller world, more global access
 * Tech-Savy - grown up in a media saturated and mostly wireless environment
 * Socially aware - wanting to work for organisations that are socially aware - [|here's an example]

Gen Z

 * Never known the world without understanding of or access to technology
 * Expected to behave like little people, no longer like children
 * Much smaller families mean they get much more attention and money, they are more worldly, fashion conscious and advertising savy
 * They are;
 * Risk averse - having been placed in cotton wool and on a pedestal, having played in ultra-safe playgrounds, this generation are likely to be afraid of failure
 * Body conscious - blame it on media saturation and less time playing outdoors

The Significance of Video Games for Gen X & Y
Did you know that over 92% of children from two to seventeen years of age have access to video games? What makes video games so significant to this discussion is market share, unlike computers and the Internet, video games are not limited to the socio-economic elite.

Few technologies have been ignored so completely by older age groups. Video games are a mix of technological delivery and entertainment content that were created specifically for the younger generation. They may not be real-life experience but they excite powerful emotions and are impenetrable to parents and older colleagues (many of the later use SMS, mp3 players and other digital mediums). Statistics show that only 25% of people older than thirty four are familiar with the language of games.
 * Have video games contributed to the generation gap?**

For the younger gen, video games are **everywhere**. They are **established** in the maketplace and most people in their twenties have not known life without them. They have **emotional** memories of their gaming experiences (having played with their mates and often on dates), and research shows they are likely to continue to purchase next-generation games for themselves and their children. There is an **expectation** from young business professionals that other professionals in their generation will communicate and function in the same strategic manner as them.

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Impact on Teaching and Learning
In the following presentation, we'll look at the impact of both video games and the life experiences of Gen X and Y in teaching and learning, and what challenges they present us with as teachers.
 * //“a generation ago 70% of students were structured auditory learners,// //today they comprise just 30%”//**

My Resources
//* Below slideshow by Alex Miller - [|Flairandsquare on Slideshare]// media type="custom" key="236437"

A Work in Progress
//Impacts and Challenges// - Generation Background and Skills Comparison -

A Worth a Look...
Have you seen this great video - [|Pay Attention]. Or this [|Did You Know2.0]? And this - [|Generation MySpace].

media type="custom" key="236439"

Also worth a look... media type="custom" key="236441"

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Some of the things we've learnt...

 * **Let go of prejudices or loose students** – pre-conceived ideas about video games causing violence, isolation, sex and gender stereotypes are not relevant and research shows these things are in fact not an issue.
 * **Keep “the game” interesting, & fun** – games are totally ‘absorbing’, offering media rich experiences that fully immerse their players. They are designed to “engross”.
 * Research and video games show us that being absorbed in such challenging environments provide an escape from clutter, deadlines and complicated thought patterns. Thus, the mind can return to a place that is clear and often deeply productive.
 * The new generations represent huge potential as they have highly developed strategy and mutli-tasking skills, we need to take the time to understand them.
 * Their 'reality'/ 'clubiness' has led to a language change that only they understand.
 * **Experience and age account for nothing**, games reward technical skill.
 * Game Over? No problem - just switch off and start again! It's easy.
 * **Baby boomers are sophisticated consumers of electronic information, the young generation were born with this knowledge. The younger generation have learned to manipulate the stories.**

kippers
n. A term popularised by Demographer Bernard Salt. Used by the Baby Boomers to describe their stay-at-home-forever Gen Y children. KIPPERS is an acronym: Kids In Parents Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings! [|Word up] - for more Gen X & Y jargon.

Activity: Mix n' Match


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Books
//*Available at Port Macquarie Campus library//


 * **[|Don't Bother Me Mom--I'm Learning!]** by Marc Prensky*
 * **[|The Kids are Alright: How the Gamer Generation is Changing the Workplace]** by John C. Beck, Mitchell Wade*
 * [|The 'New' Rules of Engagement - A handbook for teachers and parents of Generation Y] by Michael McQueen

Papers/Downloads

 * **[|McCrindle Research]** - some GREAT research on Generation X & Y, including a glossary. Beautifully presenting and useful research.
 * [|Bridging the Gap] - **An employers guide** to managing and retaining the new generations of apprentices and trainees
 * [|New Generations At Work] - Attracting, Recruiting, Retraining & Training Gen Y
 * [|Word up] - a Lexicon of Generations Y & Z and A guide to how to communicate with them.
 * [|Bridging The Gap] - Generational Diversity at Work
 * The Dark Side of Self Esteem - Has all the praise and affirmation heaped on younger generations done more harm than good? //Michael McQueen//
 * Flexibility is a Virtue - This practical article for teachers and parents explores how to pick your battles, preserving a sense of sanity and protecting your relationship with young people. //Michael McQueen//

Print Articles

 * Reality Bites - Nov 2012 - //Sydney Morning Herald//
 * Fearless and Flexible - Views of Gen Y. A qualitative study of people aged 16 to 24 in Australia - //Dusseldorp Skills Forum 2006//
 * The Manager of the 21st Century - //The Boston Consulting Group, Inc.2006 for Innovation Business Skills Australia//

Websites

 * Will Richardson shares some great resources on the changing world, education exemplars and the challenging times for educators.
 * Michael McQueen - [|nextgenimpact.com]
 * [|Web2.0 and Emerging Technologies/Next Gen Wiki]
 * Generations 2010 Report

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