According to Black (2010) in the United States in 1969, the higher education student population was comprised of predominantly able-bodied, middle-class, Caucasian men who were enrolled in college full-time and who attended either community college or a four-year institution (generally not both). These learners were typically born in the United States, were between the ages of 18 and 22, and the majority of them completed their education in four years. This population of learners mainly lived on campus. If they worked at all, it was only part-time; however, even that was a rarity, but somehow they were able to graduate with very little debt. In addition, these learners were predominately academically prepared, physically fit, and mentally healthy; and they rejected organized religion as well as societal and parental values. Their family environment was relatively stable, and friendships were bound by proximity. They preferred to study independently; however, they were very competitive and idealistic. Generally they were self-responsible and accepted institutional structure but came to the institution with a lack of ethnic and racial diversity.
By comparison, according to Black (2010), the Millennial college learner prefers to work in a collaborative group environment, whether in person or virtually. These learners are generally not as academically prepared; they come to college lacking basic skills and do not possess critical thinking and analytical abilities. They often come from unstable family environments; however, they share their parents' and society’s beliefs and values. Their friendships are not limited geographically, and they are expected to attend either a community college, four year university, or both. The Millennial learners are often assertive and demand immediate gratification and results. They are more prone to obesity than previous generations of college learners and tend to be less healthy in regards to psychological and mental health issues. This generation is dependent upon technology and will graduate with a significant amount of debt.
By comparing the general characteristics between the Millennials and previous generations a picture of just how different the Millennial learners are begins to emerge. Although some general characteristics can be easily explained, other characteristics should receive special attention as they have the ability to have a more profound impact on higher education.
--CJ Bracken
Instructional Designer
Black, A. (2010). Gen Y: Who they are and how they learn. Educational Horizons, 88 (2), 92-101.
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