Let's Discuss: Who are the Millennials and what are your thoughts on the future of Adult Assessments?

Who are the Millennials and what are your thoughts on the future of Adult Assessments?

?Morrison-Williams (2021) identified millennials as Gen Y, Gen Next, Me Generation, and Digital natives, who are the most educated generation. However, millennials are currently shouldering the most student loan debt; they were initially labeled as lazy, but and not, they prefer to participate in life's activities when these activities add value to what they "already" value. Kotz (2016) identified that millennials value tying real-world activities to current learning opportunities. They value the connectedness of relevant issues with practical application over conceptual theory. Leight (2006) recognized that this generation has never known a world without technology, has grown up in a world that has experienced relative global peace and economic expansion, and desires the use of technology to engage with the environments around them. Reis (2020) identified that millennials view higher education as simply a consumer good, not a privilege earned. Meaning, that they don't see higher education as something they should work hard to achieve success in because their parents have simply made a purchase. That purchase will eventually open doors (jobs, careers, connections, influence, etc.) to improve their future, so millennials feel entitled to receive the diploma.

?My thoughts on teaching them. Educators must reinforce that success and satisfaction in and about their lives don't happen at the speed of TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter posts or likes. Anything "worth" having takes time, work, active engagement, and patience. Educators must remember that the hard line, drill sergeant approach to teaching may have worked for a different era of learner; millennials are motivated in an environment that is nurturing, mentor engaged, developing, and where they are allowed to grow and learn on their terms. Millennials value having choices, want to be involved in the decision-making, and want to feel that the educator cares about them. They are familiar with adults around them being interactive with them, checking in on their feelings, and making space for them to voice their problems, issues, or concerns at that moment. So, educators must be prepared to make room for the millennial to be expressive, especially as their expressions relate to their learning styles or preferences… it's how they were raised, and it has worked for them so far.

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References:

Kotz, P. (2016). Reaching the millennial generation in the classroom. Retrieved from https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrWneq21Ehi7l8AXj4PxQt.;_ylu=Y29sbwNncTEEcG9zAzYEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1648969015/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2ffiles.eric.ed.gov%2ffulltext%2fEJ1099791.pdf/RK=2/RS=gkb1D88H7KIDMNIBceqsEJMWaIg-

Leight, M. (2006). Millennials education relies on technology. Retrieved from https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2006/10/millennials-education-relies-technology

Morrison-Williams, S. (2021)> Millennials changing the face of higher education. Retrieved from https://educationinitiative.thepacificinstitute.com/articles/story/millennials-changing-the-face-of-higher-education

Reis, R. (2020). Teaching the millennial generation. Retrieved from https://tomprof.stanford.edu/posting/1047