Understanding the Millennial Learner and Engagement with

Technology

by: Jim WrightKennesaw State University

June 3, 2011

My goal is to stretch you

So, we understand a bit about adult learners, but are our

students different?

Profiles of Generation MThis includes your K-12 students

and most KSU Interns

The Digital Native

http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-project-overview-video

Do they multitask?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/living-faster/split-focus/how-do-teens-do-homework-today.html?play

Essential Question:What methods or techniques can

we use to increase student engagement?

Can we teach with the phone?Is there an app for that?

Secretary of Education Duncan

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/learning/schools/school-theres-an-app-for-that.html?play

But isn’t there a digital divide?

Minority Teens Close Digital Divide with Mobile Web

Teens from low-income households, particularly African-Americans, are much more likely than other teens to go online using a cell phone.

Lenhart, Ling, Scott Campbell, and Kristen Purcell (2010). ‘”Teens and Mobile Phones.” Pew Internet and American Life Project. Pew Research Center. http://www.pewInternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx

Pew Research Center (2010)

• 44% of black teens and 35% of Hispanic teens use their cell phones to go online, compared with 21% of white teens.

• Social media like Facebook via phone– 36% for Latinos – 33% for blacks– 19% for whites

(n = 800, ages 12 – 17)

Lenhart, Ling, Scott Campbell, and Kristen Purcell (2010). ‘”Teens and Mobile Phones.” Pew Internet and American Life Project. Pew Research Center. http://www.pewInternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx

What are they doing with their phones?

• 83% use their phones to take pictures.• 64% share pictures with others.• 60% play music on their phones.• 46% play games on their phones.• 32% exchange videos on their phones.• 31% exchange instant messages on their phones.• 27% go online for general purposes on their phones.• 23% access social network sites on their phones.• 21% use email on their phones.• 11% purchase things via their phones.

Pew Research Center (2010)

So, we know the students are technology users.

Can we leverage their usage to increase student

engagement?

Activity: Whole group discussion

Question: What ways can we use technology to increase

student engagement?

Prezi

• http://prezi.com/zoidjousoeat/technology-for-the-classroom/

Cell Phone Ideas• Summarize Shakespeare by Text• Calculate cell phone usage in dollars per minute

of talk time, or average their text messaging habits?

• Student Produced Radio Show• Audio podcast and mobile note-taking resources

(such as Gabcast, Gcast, Hipcast, PrivatePhone)• Photograph Biological Phenomena in Everyday

Life

Social Media to TeachTo Kill a Mockingbird

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/learning/literacy/friending-boo-radley.html?play

FREE Web2.0 Sites that Couple with Cell Phones

• Mass Text Message Alerts:• Pulse.to• Cel.ly• Broadtexter• Wetxt• Sendgm

• Mobile Photosharing, video sharing, slideshows and Posting to Web

• Flickr• Photobucket• Dailybooth• Tumblr• Picassa Web (under Photo Settings---Upload

by Email)

• Phonecall Recordings to Web• Google Voice• iPadio• Tumblr

• SMS Mobile Reviews and Quizzes• Mobiode• Study Boost

• Text Message Polling• Polleverywhere• Letsgovote• SMSpoll

• Avatars (phone recording to)• Voki• Blabberize

• Mobile Blogging (post to a blog via SMS)• Blogger• Tumblr

• Mobile Internet Radio Show (broadcast from phone call)

• Blogtalkradio

Co-teaching Support

• Use Google docs to co-write lesson plans• Co-create presentations• Group use of spreadsheets• Skype or Google Video Chat

• Could we have a “master” technology teacher come into your class and co-teach?

See the FutureThe potential of SixthSense technology

Pranav Mistry

http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html

You have a choice

Hamster Video

http://bcoe.kennesaw.edu/video/getwiththis/

Questions

Activity: Paired discussion with your co-teacher

1. What generation are you? Is this different than your co-teacher? Does your generational perspective impact your teaching? Please discuss with your partner.

2. Describe ways you can create more engagement with your students (Cobb and KSU)? How can technology be used to facilitate and enhance this engagement?

3. In what ways will you integrate technology into your planning, teaching, and assessment?

4. What skills and techniques do you need to integrate technology into your classroom? What resources do you need to make this happen?