RIOT

Dr. Thomas Reeves conducted a literature review called “Do Generational Differences Matter in Instructional Design“. As new research is released, he continues to update the review. The version linked here is “intentionally more provocative than earlier versions in hopes of sparking a lively debate on ITForum”.

The first thing I learned from this literature review is that I’m a “cusper”. That is, I was born in 1978, which is right on the border separating Generation X and NetGen/Millenials. That’s neither here nor there.

Generational Research

The biggest flaw with research on different generations is that the majority of the studies are conducted on young, college-educated, white collar people. They were unable to find any literature on generational differences that included all socioeconomic groups.

Putting that issue aside for a moment, there is alot of disagreement about the future of the Millenials. Some have said they’ll be our most successful generation since the Greatest Generation. Others say that there’s little cause to be so optimistic.

It seems the research is questionable in many of the popular generational books. “It is difficult to find the details about the survey upon which [these] books are based. Even when the scant information provided is found, there is an almost complete lack of consideration for factors such as reliability and validity.”

It is also a bad idea to make assumptions about individuals based on their membership in a generation. Particularly for cuspers like myself… Can I be both doubtful and definite about having children? Can I have both little and high trust for authority? [See Figure 2]…

For a bit of perspective on the reliability of claims made about new generations, consider this statement from the president of the University of California at Berkeley in 1959, “employers are going to love [baby boomers]… They are going to be easy to handle. There aren’t going to be any riots.”

Technology Skills and Information Literacy

Although the Net Generation (aka Millenials) have sophisticated technology skills, “there is also evidence that their information literacy, especially with respect to judging the qality of information obtained on the Internet through search engines such as Google, is unacceptably weak.” No duh.

There is a debate between people who think that we need new ways of designing instruction for Millenials and those that think the way people learn didn’t really change for those born after 1980.

In particular, gaming is a contentious topic. Many studies in the review concluded that video games “stifle intellectual curiosity” and “encourage antisocial and even violent behavior”… while others say that video games make people more effective learners. Although the debate about video games continues, there is beginning to be a general consensus that the positive effects of gaming outweighs the negative.

New Instructional Design for New Learners?

The review gave several examples of popular books offering advice on designing instruction for Millenials with very little theory and/or research to back their claims up. However a review of educational research shows that there is very little evidence that it is beneficial to design instruction differently for different generations.

My Conclusion

All that mumbo jumbo you read about changing the way you design instruction for Millenials… ignore it… mostly… for now, at least.