COMMUNICATING WITH TODAY'S

STUDENT-ATHLETES

The Millennials

California Community College Athletic Association

Spring Conference

Doubletree HotelOntario, CA

March 31, 2009

3:15-5:15 pm

Presenters:

James ForkumDean and Athletics Director - Santa Rosa Junior

College

Sherry ForkumEnglish Professor - William Jessup University

Principal Consultants: Generational Differences Consulting

gendiff.com

OUTCOMES:Understanding the Generational Divide

and Importance in the Community College Education and Athletics Environments

Foundational Impacts on the Millennials

Knowledge of Millennial Characteristics (Technology)

Tools and Applications for Your Use

Why Should You Broaden Your Knowledge of Self and Others?

“6” in the Societal Settings

Know Our Own Generation to Understand Other Generations

Change, Motivation, Recruitment, Team-Building, and Maintaining/Increasing Growth

Retention of Relationships: Students, Employees, Members of Various Organizations

GENERATIONAL GROUPSG. I. Generation – 1901-1924 (ages 85-108)

Silent Generation – 1925-1942 (ages 67-84)

Boomers – 1943-1960 (ages 49-66)

Generation X – 1961-1981 (ages 28-48)

Millennials – 1982-2002 (ages 7-27)

Homeland – 2003 - (Ages 6 and under)

GENERATIONAL COMPARISONSSILENT BOOMER GEN X MILLENNIAL

Size 52 Million 78 Million 70.2 Million 78-100+ Million

Other Names Traditionalists Consciousness Generation

Me Generation

Modern “Lost” Generation

Slacker Generation

Generation YEcho Boom

Generation Next

Heroes GI Generation Themselves Anti-HeroesComic-Books

ParentsSilent Generation

Family Life Earliest marrying and babying generation

Silent women divorces in record

numbersLarge numbers of

women in the workforce later in the

generational cycle

Religious and/or spiritually oriented

Health orientedWaiting until later in life to have children

Have became “helicopter”

parents

Adult oriented from an early age“Anti-child” movement

Less parental supervision than ever

before (latch-key)Little peer interaction

in childhood“Copter” parenting

continued (Blackhawks)

“Special” – eagerly anticipated

Lowest parent to child ratio ever

Universally protectedSheltered

Continued…SILENT BOOMER GEN X MILLENNIAL

Work Large increase in number of people in “helping professions” in 1960s

WorkaholicsCareer focused30+year career

First to seek work/life balanceNot constrained by time and/or place

3 out of 4 work more than 31 hours per weekMore discretionary income than any previous group

Significant Life Events

DepressionSexual revolution occurred while this generation was in mid-lifeKorean War

VietnamSexual revolutionKent StateJFK

Gulf WarBerlin Wall comes downChallenger explosion

ColumbineSeptember 11Afghanistan & IraqContinued high school and college/university incidences

Notes Generation of role reversalsFocused on previous generation while young and subsequent generation in adulthood

Intense attention focused on this group for the entire Boomer lifespanSelf-aware and self-centered (largest number of self-help books)

Mired in an age of death*AIDS*Homicides drug-related deaths increased*Suicidal (at a near record rate of almost 5000 per year in mid ‘80s)

OptimisticConventionalRacially diversePressuredBody Art

Culture Has Changed• One of the top rappers is white• The number one golfer is black• The tallest player in the NBA is Chinese• The President of the United States of America

is bi-racial

• Millennials are culture-blind

Learning Environment of the FuturePaperless Environments

but…Psychologically people are tactile

Like to hold, handle, open something/Kindle

Telecommuting/Virtual Worldsbut…Social, need to work in groupsMeet physicallyInteract

PERCEPTIONSSilents – view Boomers as self-absorbed, share too much

information, question authority

Boomers – view Silents as rigid/dictatorial, company men, accept party line

Boomers – view Gen Xers as too impatient, throw out tried and true, not “company”/fickle

Gen Xers – view Boomers as inflexible to change/ say the right thing to the right person, don’t have a

life

Gen Xers – view Millennials as too spoiled/self-absorbed, too “Me”, entitled

Millennials – view Gen Xers as cynical/negative, no fun

Millennials – view older Boomers and Silents as worth listening to, “buddies”, models

A team that allows choices and openly explores ideas, and whose members value

learning, will better accommodate the needs and values of members of different

generations.

Constance Patterson, Ph.D.

Activity

1. How would you describe your generation, in general?2. How would you describe a Millennial, in general?

Don’t forget physical characteristics. Share with a neighbor.

Getting Inked and Pierced

In the Rear View

10 Attributes of an Information-Age Mindset (J. Frand)

Computers are not technologyThe Internet is better than TVReality is no longer realDoing is more important than knowingLearning more closely resembles Nintendo than

logicMultitasking is a way of lifeTyping is preferred to handwritingStaying connected is essentialThere is zero tolerance for delaysConsumer and Creator are blurring

Wired/WirelessDigital NativesCell Phones, Blackberry, iPhoneMP3 Players/iPodsTexting/SextingWeb SurfingFacebook/MySpace (Social Networks)TwitterFinger on the pulse of the WorldRight Here/Right Now Generation

The Millennial World(Our World)

Average teenager spends more than 72 hours a week using electronic media (2006)

In 2007, Millennials watched 35 movies for every book they read (many books made into movies)

Pew Internet research – nearly 80% of 28 and younger regularly read blogs/ 30% of 29-40

40% of teenagers and 20-somethings have created their own blogs

Learning CharacteristicsTeamwork ActivitiesCooperative GroupingExperiential ActivitiesStructureUse of Technology (SIDs, TM, IRDs)Email/Instant Messaging are Natural

Communication and Socialization MechanismsAuthenticity, honesty, and humility are more

important than an authoritarian leader

More Characteristics

A cult of groupthink - collaborative and team-oriented

The Volvo Experience

Obama Phenomenon

10% retain what is heard, media use raises the average to 25%, direct experience raises the average to 80-90%

Some NegativesMulti-taskingPoor Communication Skills (writing)Oral CommunicationMath SkillsMass StimulationLack of Critical Thinking/Problem Solving as an

individualPlagiarism/Cheating (turnitin.com)Problem Discerning Truth (Wikipedia)

Learning ParadigmLearner Centered

Collaboration

Active Participation

Multimedia Content

Information Exchange

Critical Thinking

Problem-Solving

Delivered Anytime

Delivered Anywhere

ExperientialFirst person learnersLearn by doing rather than by being told what to

doPrefer to express their views and incorporate their

experiences instead of being toldLearn through discovery, exploring for themselves

or with peersLearning in this manner enables them to retain the

information and use it in creative and meaningful ways

Persistent with trial and error

StrategiesAwareness of new Technology (Textspeak)

‘Dis maks my teacha cry’Different methods of reporting

information: podcasts, vodcasts, blackboard, forums, use of PowerPoint, RSS (Really Simple Syndication), LCS (Lecture Capture System), Students

Setting ParametersWebsitesRecruiting

Strategies Continued …Make learning a social activity that engages and interacts.

Do not use TTT (Talk, Text, Test).

Challenge them – They care about what matters and use responsibility as a reward.

Ask them their opinion – Collaboration (including web-based) and being part of a team is important to them.

Find them a mentor – They have great respect for Silents.

Provide timely (worthwhile) feedback – At the touch of a button. Little tolerance for delay. E-mail is “so yesterday!”

Cell phones, PDAs, and laptops are becoming mandatory classroom extensions.

Remember they are mobile nomads that process at twitch speed.

CURRENT NEGATIVE TRENDS and PROBLEMS Underage Drinking Marijuana Use (High)(Boomers) Rave Culture (Ecstasy Use) Sexually Promiscuous (Hooking Up) Technology Use Etiquette (Misuse/sexting) Time Management (Sleep Patterns) Poor Communication Skills (Texting=Speaking/Writing) Media Oriented (Self-Image)

Multi-tasking Mass Stimulation Lack of Critical Thinking/Problem Solving as an individual

(Groupthink) Plagiarism/Cheating (turnitin.com) Problem Discerning Truth (Wikipedia)

7 Tools for Communicating with Millennials

1. Understand Yourself and Your Beliefs

2. Engage Them (Intentionally)

3. Listen

4. Ask Questions

5. Clarify What Has Been Said (Eligibility)

6. Impart Tools of Decision Making

7. Affirm Lavishly and Correct Sparingly(Adapted from McAllister’s Saving the Millennial Generation)

The Millennials Are:OptimistsRule Followers (Thrive on Structure)Volunteers and Servants (Mandatory Draft)Accepting of Authority (If honest and humble)Most Protected in History (up to this point)BrightLoyal (brands)“Heroes”Accepting of ALL (Diversity)

SUMMARYProvide StructureProvide Leadership and GuidanceEncourage the Millennial’s Self-

Assuredness, “Can-Do” Attitude, and Positive Personal Self-Image

Take Advantage of the Millennial’s Comfort Level With Teams. Encourage Them To Join

Listen to the MillennialMillennials Are Up For The Challenge and

Change

Food for Thought

It’s not the first half of the game that counts, but how you leave the court at the end of the game.

Time for You

QuestionsAnswers

To Contact Us… Email: contact@gendiff.com

Phone: 707.837.5582

Website: gendiff.com