Research Question
I want to research "Why is it difficult to teach adults?" What considerations should I take to engage Generation Y in learning? What considerations should I take in order to present information to Generation X?” “What can I do with the environment in the room to engage all generations during a workshop or training?
Generation Y parents are the group that has been showing a lack of participation for training / workshops offered at my center. For instance, the purposes of this paper are to provide a general overview of why offering workshops to the parents of early childhood centers can be difficult, and identify what considerations should be taken while presenting information to the two main groups Generation X and Generation Y of parent/caregivers. I will analyze and review the research evidence from five research journals that focus on the generations implicated in my research questions. The material has been organized into three sections: (1) defining the generations by birth date and name, (2) characteristics of these generations including learning styles, and (3) what considerations or strategies I should take for Generation Y each generation. To conclude this paper, I will evaluate the resources and include how this research might affect the solution system that I will propose in my following paper.
In order to understand what considerations I should take to modify workshops, it is important to start identifying how the generations had been divided. During my research, I used articles that mention Generation Y, Millennial Generation, and Net Generation. Although the birth dates used to define these generations have varied in different surveys and countries, there seems to be some agreement in the literature and characteristics of generations. The research from McCrindle (2003) starts by defining generations. Since my research paper is focusing on three generations, I will mention only those that might apply to my paper. The author stated that Boomers are those born between 1946 and 1964. Generation X is those individuals born between 1965 and 1981, while Generation Y includes young people born between 1982 and 2000. In this case, the author stated that Generation Z include children born after 2001. On the other hand, Eubank and Pitts (2011) talk about Baby Boomers, Generation X and the present generation which is label Generation Y, The Millenials or Digital Natives. As we can see these authors are using two more names for Generation Y. Contrary to McCridnle, Weiler is stating that Generation Y includes students born between 1980 and 1994. On the other hand, Berk (2009) takes a takes a deep description of characteristics and labeled Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z with up to ten names. The names that this author is using are Millennials, Generation Y, Echo Boomers, Net Generation, Trophy Generation, First Digitals, Dot.Com Generation, Digital Aboriginals, Nexters, and Digital Natives. According to Berk (2009), "Millennial is a term that was use by students to disassociate themselves from Generation X. The Millennials is a generation of high school students graduating class of 2000 as they entered the new millennium. "The term Net Generation has been linked directly to the Inter(net) and the emerging digital technology of the 1990s with which this generation grew up. They never knew a world without computers and the internet."
Eubank ad Pitts (2011) used the method of Kolb Learning Style Inventory throughout a survey to identify the learning styles from Generation X and Generation Y from optometrist students. The results showed that Generation X learners surveyed in 1993 were more Convergers and Assimilators. As Convergers, the Generation Y learners liked the combination of abstract conceptualization and active experimentation to find practical applications for ideas ad theories. In other words, they were thinkers and doers. The other learning style of their preference was Assimilator with a combination of abstract conceptualization and reflective observation to organize information into a concise logical form. In other words, the learners are thinkers and watchers. Conversely, Generation Y learners surveyed in 2010 showed different learning styles by being more Diverges, with tendencies toward concrete experiences and reflective observation. They are more imaginative and come up with ideas and like to see things from a different perspective. In other words, like to learn by feeling and watching. The other learning style that was more likely to describe Generation Y learners was Accommodators with a combination of concrete experience and active experimentation. In other words, they are good at actively engaging with the world and doing things instead of merely reading and studying (feelers and doers). To expand more the learning styles from Generation Y, the research found in the article by Weiler (2004) affirmed that this generation is more visual and prefers hands-on activities to learn. The method that this article use includes information-seeking research.
To continue supporting the statements from the other articles regarding the learning styles in Generation Y, I will use the article from Berk (2009). According to this article the Net Geners (in other words Generation Y) showed the following characteristics. This generation is technology savvy and are interest in multimedia. This tools give them the opportunity to do things while they are observing and interacting. They learn by inductive discovery meaning that they learn by doing rather than being told. They are kinesthetic learner requiring hands-on activities. The article states that this generation likes to communicate visually, meaning that they want to see images and text rather that just text. The method that researcher used to find this information was through surveys. The article from Roehling, Vander, Dykema, Quisenberry, & Vandlen (2012) used focus groups to provide the next information about Millenial Generation or Generation Y. According to the authors this generation highly value entertainment and social interaction. Entertainment include technology and multimedia that make learners more visual. They also like social interactions where is including the hands-on activities. In other words, Watchers and Does as stated by Eubank et al (2011).
To teach and engage young parents or Generation Y parents in training /workshops, we need to consider how they had been influenced in learning, and what are their learning styles. Experiences during early childhood and teenage years influence each generation. "Xers saw in the Personal Computer, AIDS, single parent families, the growth in multiculturalism, and the downsizing of companies. Generation Y's have lived through the age of internet, cable television, globalization, September 11, and environmentalism. Such shared experiences during one's youth unite and shape generation." (McCrindle, 2003). We need to consider that some of those early Xers are digital immigrants (Prensky 2001) while most of Generation Y are digital naives. Berk (2009) states that many of Generation Xers still have one foot in the past and digital is their second language, as they continue to learn and sometimes struggle with it on the fly. Regarding Generation Y Berk added that "all students share a common body of technology knowledge that they have all mastered." Roehling et al (2012) states that several characteristics of the Millennial Generation make discussion particularly well suited to their educational needs and interest." In order to have respectful discussion activities in the classroom, we need to create a positive classroom atmosphere. It is the instructor's responsibility to have clear norms for participation and respect of others opinions. Regarding how tech savvy Generation Y might be, we need to consider other factors that might impact this skill. Berk (2009) states that just because this generation has been growing in an era of technology, they are not necessarily net savvy. "They need to be taught information literacy and strong critical thinking skills." Berk took a deeper step into this point and said "those students who are neither tech nor net savvy due to class, nationality, or other factors that limit access, special instruction or training sessions should be provided to give them opportunities to be brought up to the same level of their more proficient peers." In my experience working with low income families that fit into Generation Y, I had been observing that the majority of them has access to Internet, cell phones, e-mails, and text services. We also need to consider that the group is using the public libraries or the early child hood center to use technology.
For my research, I used qualitative and quantitative questions. Quantitative research "captures and displays a graphic picture of some aspects of a situation- expressed in numbers." (Locke, Silverman, & Spirduso 2011 p. 96) I compared the data from surveys to the subject about their learning preferences. The descriptive research was helpful to describe the statistics results and characteristics. Using the qualitative research was helpful to interpret research from interviews. "Among the methods commonly used by interpretative researchers are interviews, systematic observation of the setting or events under investigation, and analysis of documentary materials." (Locke, Silverman, & Spirduso 2011 p. 184) The surveys done to all generations are interpreted to understand the responses from the subjects. All the articles and journals that were use for this research are peer reviewed.
