Understanding the Millennial Generation

Overview
According to Neil Howe and William Strauss' Millennials Rising, the next great generation of students consists of those born after 1980 and graduating high school following the year 2000. This generation, in spite of negatively-framed predictions, has demonstrated many unique characteristics that can make them successful in the academic and economic world of the future.

These characterizations often are of the broad, sweeping generalities variety. The challenge for academics is to understand the distinctive characteristics of this new generation of students and then to translate that understanding into specific pedagogical practices. However, this charge will take some creativity as hard data on which practices work best is slow in coming. 

These are our students; how do we reach them?

Download a copy of some ideas about translating impressions into practice. (from Lilly North presentation 9/17/2005 presentation, Who are our students) Teaching Millennial Students

Related Links - There a lots of resources on this and related issues

Educause  - This is an exceptional resource for academics preparing to teach in this century and only a portion of a supportive site.

Growing Up Digital - An article by Don Tapscott and he has a related devoted website with the same title Growing Up Digital

Managing and Motivating Generations
A PDF file from a course on generational differences 

The Center for Generational Studies
Comprehensive consultancy with free on-line bibliographies and fee-based research and articles

Adult learning
30 things you need to know about adult learning