Have you ever looked out at your student filled classroom to see that half are paying attention? Are they taking notes on their tablets or laptops? Don't be fooled! A close look may reveal facebook scrolling or Amazon-buying. Social media is integral to this generation's community experience.
That realization brings an understanding of their preference for a text message to a face-to-face encounter.
There is nothing wrong with social media. We do enjoy looking at baby pictures of our high school and college friends. And what does our Ex look like now? Day-to-day personal and work routines of banking, ordering goods, and emailing have thrown us right into the middle of the digital age. Our families keep in touch through texting or facetime. And we look everything up online. Times have changed!
Connecting with our millennial students' means, like it or not, we have to get on board with digital communication.
Expanding within the digital environment sets these students apart, as does a lack of confidence. Millennial students who perceive life as stressful rely heavily on their previously hovering parents or guardians to help them navigate life's challenges. As a result, the autonomous nature of the nursing profession and the emphasis on the responsibility of decision-making that can impact lives is difficult for them.
Understanding this is crucial to recognize stress and anxiety which can inhibit learning.
Millennial students are ambitious, optimistic, gravitate towards working in teams, conventional and need to feel important. Expressions of appreciation gain of these students' attention as do small recognitions.
We might have to start giving them a pat on the back for coming to class on time!
Other ways faculty can show they appreciate their millennial students
Learn and call them by name (you won't remember them, that's what seating charts are for)
Introduce yourself on the first day of class (don't assume they know who you are!)
Clearly outline your expectations (these students are very concrete thinkers) - give them specific rubrics and firm due dates
Provide a lot of feedback (oral and written)
Don't criticize in front of the class (you shouldn't do this with anyone)
Millennials tend towards skepticism. After all, their parents were baby boomers who didn't trust anyone over 30! Review how you present the information. What worked with older generations simply won't work with this crowd.
Nursing faculty must gain student trust, helping them become accountable individuals that collaborate in the learning process.
Tried and true instructional methods for millennials
Give them questions and scenarios that relate to the real world as they understand it
Have students share their research with classmates
Encourage working in small groups to solve problems
Ask for their help (Millennials are helpers in the strongest sense of the word)
Utilize all types of learning in the classroom (don't shy away from hands-on practice and demonstration)
Give nursing students in upper-level courses the opportunity to engage in service-learning
Millennials are diversity sensitive. 21st-century American universities and colleges have greater inclusivity. Depending on where you teach, specific unique cultural or ethnic considerations may need to be incorporated into the classroom. They are adaptable to change so long as it is fair and clearly defined. Tolerant of differences, they may appreciate your personal quirks but they expect you to do the same for them.
Working with a classroom full of Millennials isn't easy. Understanding how they differ from you and your colleagues lends to successfully bringing them to the graduation finish line.
Lynch, M. (2016). Top four ways to engage millennials in learning environments. The
EdAdvocate. Retrieved from: https://www.theedadvocate.org/top-four-ways-to-
engage-millennials-in-learning-environments/
Thank you for your comment. The average age of a nursing student at our school is 32 and climbing with each cohort. 1/4 to 1/3 of each cohort already has a degree and over half have families. Granted we have a BSN program and students do tend older.
An article I thought you may be interested in is: Let's Break Down Who Really Qualifies as a Millennial by LIZZ SCHUMER.
Another interesting fact: Gallup Inc., MSW Research, the Resolution Foundation use 1980–1996, PricewaterhouseCoopers has used 1981 to 1995, and Nielsen Media Research has defined millennials as between 21 and 37 years old in 2018. In 2014, U.S PIRG described millennials as those born between 1983 and 2000.
In my experience with older students: they all want to go home early and they want/expect an A, even if their work is not at that level. They are very conscientious and like typical students, are not always honest in class (though they extol the importance of honesty.)
Thank you for your comment. Yes, I must agree older students do not want to pay-the-dues for the reward. Somehow they feel as if they have put in their time, most often in getting a different degree and somehow that should "count" toward their current effort. Often though I have seen them come around once they have experienced how "different" the pursuit of s nursing degree can be...
I am not sure if you asking for commentary from someone other than myself? However, I certainly have had that thought cross my mind many-a-time. I am the parent of two millennials - one off-the-rails and one overly responsible. And what I have to come to realize is that we did what we could as parents, to the best of our ability given the information at the time. Of course, knowing what we know now we would certainly act differently, but therein lies the rub does it not? It is the way of parenting and has been for generations. We are in a long line of parents and parenting, hopefully, we have done better than those before us and our children will be better off for it and they will parent better than we did for their children.
To further this thought is this not indicative of what we hope for our nursing practice, also?
I have no issues with my students. I make my expectations clear and challenge them. I let them challenge me. I remind them how they are getting their money's worth as we summarize what they have leaned with each interaction.
Remind them of the value you bring. Explain concepts in easy terms, then in depth. Make them WANT to learn your craft. Have them verbalize what they learned today what they did not know yesterday, and point out that value. Be the educator you NEEDED. Inspire them every day with your clinical stories.
Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.
Maybe your lectures suck and students learn more sitting at home in their own. Class time should be for test taking and hands on skills not listening to mundane lectures.
It does sound as if yours is an inspirational approach based on student curiosity? And you use parable teaching as well?
It is obvious from Tegridy's post not everyone learns the same nor has the same idea of instruction content. What is the approach you would suggest with students that express a similar opinion?
The burnout I was asking about is nursing faculty. I became fascinated with the topic and turned it into a doctoral pursuit. I am soon to be putting my survey on allnurses.com for nursing faculty to complete.
That is the basis for my caring, curiosity, and questions.
I like to see them think. I like to see them imagine and want to understand. I truly enjoy listening to them think outloud. I can see where their thoughts are developing, and redirect that thinking in real time.
I make a big deal when someone "gets it!" I act as if they just saved MY life.
Yes, I use metaphors and stories, and honestly, even memes!
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PamtheNurse, BSN, MSN
5 Articles; 58 Posts
Tridil200,
Thank you for your comment. The average age of a nursing student at our school is 32 and climbing with each cohort. 1/4 to 1/3 of each cohort already has a degree and over half have families. Granted we have a BSN program and students do tend older.
An article I thought you may be interested in is: Let's Break Down Who Really Qualifies as a Millennial by LIZZ SCHUMER.
Another interesting fact: Gallup Inc., MSW Research, the Resolution Foundation use 1980–1996, PricewaterhouseCoopers has used 1981 to 1995, and Nielsen Media Research has defined millennials as between 21 and 37 years old in 2018. In 2014, U.S PIRG described millennials as those born between 1983 and 2000.
Pam the Nurse