DEALING WITH GENERATION Y STUDENTS

After last week’s blog post, there are those who agree with what was addressed and those who don’t but what we can agree on is that there are differing levels of teaching methods. Maybe due to an informed lecturer who surpasses the education levels of the students or students who believe they have surpassed the information that the lecturer may have. The former is something that we will discuss at a later date. In today’s technology driven world and a world where one can get just about any information from the internet, it is not hard to imagine a world where students believe they know more than their lecturers. It is no strange occurrence to have among your students one who challenges you in your thinking or one who is always ready to dispute, challenge or support what you or the class are arguing.

Regarding what we discussed last week on problems students come across in their quest for quality education, it can also be a teachers nightmare to have to deal with students who find his methods boring or out dated so here is what to do once you are a lecturer and one glance around your classroom gives you the indication that you may be dealing with the so-called generation Y who are known to have short attention spans.

1.       Always be ready for class

Assuming that you have your content and since you have been doing this for so many years it is not necessary to brush through the next day’s lesson plan. You will be highly mistaken by entering into a debate about modern culture with more than 30 students who are from the same age group and supposed Nairobi culture. They will eat chew your views and spit them out the minute they feel they aren’t in line with what they know and believe. So it’s best to show up in class ready and fully prepared with not only text book content but what many refer to as “generation y” content as well.

2. Understand your class demographic

Always try to get an over view of where your students are from and try to spend some time listen to their view s on matters rather than just shrugging them off. Their views on certain issues are important and may add to the information that you may already have.

3. Embrace new methods of teaching

Don’t be too rigid in your teaching methods but once in a while step out of your comfort levels and make the class a bit more interesting to your students. Be ready to involve them in the  lessons and even give them an opportunity to run a few lessons their way, with you as the moderator of course. That way they not only get to appreciate the class but also get to understand that teaching is no easy job.

Raising the bar on the levels of education involves understanding each other in the classroom both as the lecturer and the student no matter how different both parties may be.