“Me, Myself and I….is all that matters to me!”
The Digital Natives of our time, a generation born during the years of 1980 – 2000 have sparked debate and controversy for a few years now. An article published by Time Magazine, labelled Millennials as lazy, entitled, self-obsessed and narcissistic. (Millennials: “The Me, Me, Me Generation,” 2013). Another study released by the Pew Research Centre in 2010, positively depicts this Internet Generation as open-minded, liberal, self-expressive, upbeat, and overtly passionate about equality.
Successfully implementing learning initiatives appealing to this Generation Y, has surely been a thorn in the side of many a training professional worldwide.
E-Learning methodologies have been around for almost two decades now and consistently providing excellent results in Baby Boomer and Generation X participants. However, E-Learning is failing substantially in delivering on learner expectations and learner achievement outcomes for Millennial students. One may frown upon the reason for this phenomenon as E-Learning curriculums are of stellar quality, compiled by seasoned experts and professional training heavy weights, but herein lies the answer and the solution to improvement. These curriculum designers are mostly from the Baby Boomer and Generation X eras with an entirely different frame of reference towards learning methods, approaches and execution styles.
“Adaptation per generation” is required within the conceptualisation of E-Learning as to redesign methodologies to cater to the preferences of each generational learning group. Millennials are often referred to as the ‘’distracted generation,” and in a training environment, the terms distraction and learning fit together like chalk and cheese.
How do we then transition our Millennial participants from entitled to engaged, pre-occupied to attentive and unresponsive to absorbed?
“Today’s learning platforms must help people find learning content quickly (videos, documents, or short courses), make it easy to publish and recommend content, and integrate video and other digital content right into our daily lives. The LMS should operate like iTunes or YouTube or Netflix: wherever I am I should be able to find content I need, play it on my phone, and find other content that’s related”. (Josh Bersin: Bersin by Deloitte, 2015)
The answer seems to be relatively straightforward: Teach them like they prefer to be taught by considering their behavioural traits when participating in social or recreational communication and then customising a Learning Management System (LMS) accordingly.
- Flexible and On-demand
Curriculums should be delivered in bite sized chunks (micro-learning) and optimised or synced across various devices like smartphones, tablets, and notebooks (m-learning). Training occurrences should be continuously transpiring as part of their lifestyle, instead of scheduled events on their calendars.
- Variety of Information Platforms
Content distribution must incorporate various communication platforms creating visual, auditory and kinesthetic stimuli for instance videos, podcasts or interactive apps.
- Self-directed Learning
Learning programmes should resonate with their sense of self-discovery and offer guidance towards finding the answers themselves as opposed to providing the solution outcomes upfront.
- Collaboration with Others
Group based projects encouraging information sharing, social networking or debate with their peers in online communities and forums will appeal to their desire of continuously interacting with others.
- Driven by Rewards & Results
Millennials are motivated and inspired by external forms of recognition. Implementing competitions, quizzes or gamification activities where badges can be earned or tokens awarded to recognise the achievement of learning milestones, should be taken into consideration in the course design process.
Training and Learning are important stepping stones in the development journey of any generation. However, the global business sphere is rapidly being infiltrated by the Millennial Generation which will account for 75% of the global workforce by 2025. These future leaders of our global corporate society and must be adequately equipped to steer business appropriately through the challenging waters of disruptive times and technologies lying ahead.
Revamping E-Learning strategies for Millennials will be a major key to unlocking and leveraging their potential as to ensure a sustainable, purposeful business environment for future generations.
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