Engaging the Millennial Generation in Class Discussions

Students in the Millennial Generation (late 20s and younger) have been raised in an environment in which individuality is highly valued and information, entertainment, and social interactions are unlimited and at their fingertips. As a result, these students may have different educational expectations and needs than previous generations. Class discussions, if conducted correctly, can be a learning activity that complements the learning styles of this variety seeking, collaborative generation. To understand how to effectively engage Millennial students in active class discussions, we conducted six focus groups with students between the ages of 18 and 21 to explore whether and why they value class discussions and to identify the barriers and the facilitators of active participation in class discussions. The present article summarizes the focus group findings, integrates them with what we know about students in the Millennial Generation, and uses this information to develop suggestions for actively engaging today's students in classroom discussions.

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