Millennial Student (The Next Generation)
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Transcript Millennial Student (The Next Generation)
Wyoming Conference of Municipal Courts
The Strengths and Challenges of the
“Next Generation” Student and
Lawyer
N. Denise Burke
Assistant Dean
University of Wyoming College of Law
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Presentation Objective:
Develop knowledge and understanding of
the skills and challenges presented by
today’s law students, new attorneys and
anyone born in the “next generation.”
In case you’re worried about what’s going
to become of the younger generation, it’s
going to grow up and start worrying
about the younger generation.”
-Roger Allen
Generational Identifiers:
What are their characteristics?
What are their expectations?
How can you meet their expectations?
How can you better communicate with
them?
Who are they?
Note: time frames are not exact so
individuals in one generational group
may resemble another generation
Remember: When You Were Born
Affects Who You Are
VALUES
Early years mold your values.
ATTITUDES
Values shape your attitude.
CHOICES
Attitude determines your choices.
The Generational Cycle
Represent people “moving through time”
with a distinct image of themselves
Historical events and social perspectives
shape subsequent generations
Each generation has a set of common
beliefs and behaviors
Each generation has a common location
in history
COMMON GENERATIONAL LABELS
GI/Veteran
Silent/Traditionalist
Baby Boomers
Generation X
Millennials
1901 – 1924
1925 – 1942
1943 - 1964
1965 - 1979
1980 - Today
Quick Quiz #1
How well do you know the
generations?
Which generation are you?
What generation is this?
More likely to live in two-income household.
May have children at home and caring for
elder parents
Have the basic feeling of security
More likely than others to focus on
education
Believe hard work and time will ultimately
reward you
88.8% of this generation completed high
school
Baby Boomers
What generation is this?
This group was born at a time when it was
considered natural and appropriate for
families to have large numbers of children
This generation married early in life
This generation are about 95% retired at
this point in time
This group was during the Great
Depression
Silent/MatureGeneration
What generation is this?
This group grew up during the post
Watergate era and the energy crisis.
These children experienced a higher rate
of divorce and nontraditional families
Many were latchkey kids who were
raised on electronic media (television,
Atari 2600s)
As parents, they demand accountability
Generation X
What generation is this?
Sheltered; parents very involved
Have experienced a positive
economy throughout school years
Grew up on kid safety rules,
lockdown of public schools,
national youth safety movement
Technological sophistication
Entering adulthood later in life
Millennial Generation
Why this subject is so important?
Academic training and programs
Impact on the law, law enforcement,
and judiciary
Civic programs & strategies
Communication
Customer service
Technology
Parental Involvement at all levels
Demographics of Today’s UW Law
Student
Age range: 21-64; Median age: 26.4
Gender split: 51% male, 49% female
34 different majors: Accounting to Zoology
38 undergraduate institutions
Originate from 17 states, 4 countries
>800 applications for admission; incoming
class of 75-80
>85% take class notes on laptop computers
>90% take final exams on computers
Who are the Millennials?
Born in or after 1982
Presently 80 million in number (largest
group); increased life expectancy
Oldest entered college Fall of 2000,
entered law school Fall of 2004,
graduated law school Spring 2007
3 most popular names:
Males
Michael
Jason
Christopher
Females
Jennifer
Jessica
Ashley
Events That Made An Impression
9-11
Columbine
Oklahoma
City Bombing
Princess Di’s death
O.J. Simpson Trial
Rodney King riots
Defining Characteristics
Conventional
Confident
“Special”
Sheltered
Self-Assured
Stressed
Achieving
Team-oriented
Racially diverse
Extremely close with
parents
Savvy with
technology
Less interested in
humanities
MILLENNIALS ARE:
SPECIAL
SHELTERED
CONFIDENT
TEAM-ORIENTED
ACHIEVING
PRESSURED
CONVENTIONAL
MILLENNIALS ARE SPECIAL
Generation of “wanted” children
Central to their parents’ sense of purpose
Many Boomer parents delayed having children
until financially secure
Boomer parents – “helicoptor parents”- swoop
in to save the day for their special child
Gen-X parents – “stealth-fighter parents”
You may not see them, but always one text
away from changing the child’s choice
MILLENNIALS ARE SHELTERED
Baby on Board signs were created for
this generation
Their well being has dominated
legislation (child restraints, home
products, movie/video ratings, campus
security)
Boomer parents tend to be overprotective; GenX parents want
accountability
MILLENNIALS ARE CONFIDENT
Raised by parents believing in the
importance of self-esteem
Optimistic yet practical
Hopeful of the future
Enjoy strong connections with their
parents; delaying entering the “adult
workforce”
MILLENNIALS ARE TEAMORIENTED
They are used to being organized in
teams
They have spent much of their time
working and learning in groups
They have established tight peer bonds
They are inclusive: less concerned with
sexual orientation, socio-economic
status, racial/ethnic boundaries
MILLENNIALS ARE ACHIEVING
They are very much into setting and
meeting goals
They have the benefit of best-educated
parents
They are the smartest ever with rising
proficiency in math, science and
standardized tests; some experts
challenge their depth of knowledge
They are subject to mandatory testing
MILLENNIALS ARE PRESSURED
They are pushed to study hard
They are pushed to succeed
They are pushed to attend college
They are pushed to choose careers that “pay
off” nicely
They want to get the grade regardless of the
knowledge acquired
Parents want them to have perfect set of
courses, degrees, skills, & contacts for
material advantage.
MILLENIALS ARE
CONVENTIONAL
They identify with their parents’ values
They feel close to their parents
They are “rule followers” (if we give them
clear rules they can understand)
They accept authority
“Whatever” – passive approach to
dissent
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Technology and Multitasking are a way of life:
cell phone, instant message, I-pod tunes, and
computer research all while doing homework.
Trial and error is the key learning strategy
(Nintendo logic)
They are used to bits and bytes, flash and
color
They are racially and ethnically diverse
They want their parents involved (really
involved)
There is zero tolerance for delays
The Millennial Student
Exposure and/or
experimentation with
“grown up” activity
Exposure to vast
information but less indepth understanding
Different patterns of
social connection and
intimacy
Increasingly high levels
of stress and anxiety
Technology proficiency
Part-time employment
Ambitious but unrealistic
expectations
Aware of campus and
community rules,
regulations and political
correctness. However,
see it as a challenge to
find a way around the
rule.
Growing Up “Messages”
Be smart – you are special (Nickelodeon,
Baby Gap, Sports Illustrated for Kids)
Leave no one behind (taught to be inclusive
and tolerant of other religions and sexual
orientations)
Connect 24/7 (learned to be interdependenton family, friends, and teachers)
Achieve now! (right college, right preschool)
Serve your community – think of the greater
good but not necessarily politically active
What is your MIQ?
Who are Posh, Scary, Ginger, Baby and Sporty?
SPICE GIRLS
Who got “Jiggy wit it?”
WILL SMITH
In what sport does Tony Hawk compete?
SKATE BOARDING
What are the real names?
Shaq
SHAQUILLE O’NEIL
MJ
MICHAEL JORDON
Stone Cold
STEVE AUSTIN
J-Lo
JENNIFER LOPEZ
P. Diddy
SHAWN COMBS
Can you speak Millennial?
Flashy or Glitzy
Bling Bling
Hot Rod
Ride or Hooptie
Sneakers
Shox
Hunk/Stud/Babe
Hottie
Girlfriend/Boyfriend
Boo
Cool/Awesome
Sweeeeet!
Thongs
Flip Flop
The Greatest Influence
PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Millennial Parent Characteristics
Idealist
Passionate
Protective
Involved
Concerned
Intelligent
Demanding
Prioritize education
Want
structure,supervision,
and feedback
Knowledgeable about
college experience
Sense of entitlement
high cost of attendance
regard for student as
children, not adults
Basic concerns are priority
Expect to be involved from
admission to graduation
(to infinity and beyond…)
Parental Affect
Reflect parent values
Trust their parents
Programmed
Decisions are made for them
Aim to please authority figures
Celebrated
Ways to Equip Yourself for
Millennials
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Be aware of generational differences and influences.
Know your generation’s strengths and weaknesses
as well as those of the other generations.
Become more computer savvy.
Seek their technical expertise.
Acknowledge the value and limitations of multitasking.
Set reasonable timelines and stick with them. Things
do not have to be immediate in spite of their
demanding such.
Acknowledge differing communication styles.
INTERNET USAGE
Informational vs. Transactional
Our usage vs. Millennials’ usage:
-we use internet for info they use it for
recreation, “connectivity” and transactions
Legal research and writing
-interesting issues re plagiarism, attribution,
and credibility of sources
ONLINE HABITS AND BEHAVIOR
The younger the student, the more
internet and computer savvy
82% are online daily
Multitasking is routine.
Facebook, MySpace and social networks
are common place.
Millennials Information Preferences
Information must be individually tailored
Immediacy and convenience are top
priorities
Portability of information is critical (web
portals)
Content must be dynamically generated
‘Lag Time’ is a foreign concept
Web Surfing is passé
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THIS
INFORMATION?
Know your clients, personnel
- trend watching; polls
Determine your solution
If you have a web site is it up to date?
- mobility, uniqueness, interactivity
1 - Mobility
Mobile Web Sites
Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)
Palm
Pocket PC
Smart phones
2 - Uniqueness
Look no further than your own
browser…they want at least the
appearance of interpersonal
communication
Content delivery must be relevant,
custom tailored, personally welcoming
Websites should anticipate the
questions not wait for the inquiry.
3 - Interactivity
Interactive communication and letters
Interactive calculators and estimators
Interactive forms and electronic
signatures
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) forms are not
interactive, but may be first step.
Remember: Millennials value
communication and time above all else.
3 – Interactivity (cont’d)
Engage with technology – teach with
content
Extend your customer service model
(FAQs, email, phone, instant
messaging) Do you have a process for
handling incoming e-mail?
How can current system be improved by
incorporating their value system?
Educational Issues
Diversity of needs, experiences and
backgrounds
Expectation that education is holistic and
complete, not just fact-based
Increased high school drop-out and failure rates
Poor class participation
Typically under-prepared for class
Need specific direction and guidance
“The number one thing to realize with the
Millennials is that as a whole they reflect
much more parental perfectionism than any
generation in living memory. Colleges and
universities should know that they are not
just getting a kid, but they are also getting
a parent.”
William Strauss
Author, Millennials Rising
Why?
Violent Crime is down 60%-70%
Student crimes shrank from 3.4 million to 1.4 million
from 1992-2004, while teen population grew by 5.4
million
Teen pregnancy is down nationwide
Teen smoking decreased by 40% in 1995-2005
Engaged in community service
Tolerant - everyone is part of community
See themselves as successful
Overall attitude of build up not tear down; bullying not
allowed or tolerated
Contrary to popular belief….
“They will recast the image of youth from
downbeat and alienated to upbeat and
engaged.”
“The reason people blame things on
previous generations is that there’s
only one other choice.”
-Doug Larson
References and Resources
Motivating the “What’s in it if for Me?”
Workforce (Cam Marston)
Millennials Rising: The Next Generation
(Neil Howe & William Strauss)
Millennial Child: Transforming Education in
the Twenty-First Century (Eugene
Schwartz)
“Parents: Relax” Time Magazine, April 9,
2007, (John Cloud)