Synthesis

Consider the purpose and goal of your presentation, and, in turn, which organizational strategy will best accommodate it. Recall the organizational strategies identified by Terry Taylor in Chapter 5 of //100% Information Literacy Success//: organization by category/concept, chronological organization, hierarchical organization, and alphabetical organization. Work with your group members to decide on the organizational strategy you will use. Keep this organizational strategy in mind as you and your group members begin to synthesize the 8–10 research resources you selected in Week 3. After reviewing each resource, ask: 1.What relationships do you detect between them? 2. Do certain resources agree with or complement one another? 3. Do others boldly contradict one another? Perhaps one extends an idea that is proposed in another, or introduces a new spin on a previously discussed concept. After you have identified these relationships, consider how pointing out these links will support your group’s overall concept and create new, original ideas. What does each combination of resources say about your topic? What new point do they help you prove? Keep these questions in mind as you and your group members synthesize your resources.
 * TASK1: figure out the goal of the presentation and the organizational strategy we will use: I think we should use category/concept organization **
 * TASK2:** **//By Wednesday// of this week, each group member should post 1–2 specific synthesis suggestions for the presentation to the Synthesis page of the group wiki.**

Hello!
So I read through most of the resources on our approved list. A few stood out as really being more helpful than others. The few that did carried the same kind of message, only the details differed in them. In lieu of this, I recommend (and agree with our week 4 leader) that following a category/concept organizational strategy will be the most helpful for our group. Looking at our resources and grouping or separating them in regards to millenials, gen x and then also, differences and similarities in expectations.

//Nicoletti, A., & Merriman, W.. (2007, April). Teaching Millennial Generation Students. Momentum, 38(2), 28-31. Retrieved July 20, 2009, from Research Library// : This resource focuses specifically on the learning styles and needs of the current millenial student/learner. Some of the topics discussed are similar to that of the information in the following resource: [] : While this article is not as thorough, we can absolutely create a factual overview of characteristics for the millenial generation from these two articles.

To assist us in comparing and contrasting the differences and similarities of the two learning generations (in regards to expectations) the Marc Prensky website and the Educause article have specifics on this and can be used to help us create a good overview of that as well.

Hope this is helpful!!

** 12/29/10 Deb Polson Synthesis ** Ohler (n.d.) portrays many characteristics for both Gen X and Gen Y (Millennials). In some ways, she is quite derogatory toward GenXers which, in combination with Brown’s (1997) article, will allow Group D to develop a true profile for each group.The presentation helps provide a backdrop to the more exploratory information provided by Brown’s (1997) article titled New Learning Strategies for Generation X. In combination these resources offer a wider view of the GenXers and their learning styles.

Ohler (n.d.) also uses the presentation for offering more information about the Millennials, both the good and the not so good. The presentation works well as a lead in to Marc Prensky’s ability to define today’s youth and their expectations of education. Prensky’s (2005) article, Engage Me or Enrage Me, helps present the true learning needs of the generation.

These three resources with the addition of Prensky’s (2001) Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants will offer a well rounded view of both Generation X and the Millennials. I have also written an essay the pulls together the information from the first three resources that can help explain what I believe are important ingredients for Group D’s project. (I mistakenly thought we were to write an actual synthesis essay. Too much holiday and family I think. To view the essay, click on Manage Wikis, then Files, click on Synthesis.docx. Let me know if you think this is the direction in which we want to go.)

The category/concept is a good idea while including a somewhat chronological order since the GenXers came before the Millennials. This will help to create a flow of information as to how learning styles and technological tools have affected the learning process for these groups. The GenXers were the first to fight against some of the teaching styles and request more technology in the classrooms. Through their endeavors the Millennials are seeing many changes within schools. This has helped to garner a new learning style that incorporates a lot more multitasking and collaborative work then we have witnessed in the past.

References

Brown, B. L. (1997). New learning strategies for Generation X. //ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult Career and Vocational Education//. Retrieved from __ [] __

Ohler, L. (n.d.). //Digital Immigrants teaching digital natives: Strategies for patient education in the 21st century.// [Transcript]. Presentation for NATCO Annual Conference. New York, NY. Retrieved from __ [] __

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. Retrieved from __ [] __

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Part II. Retrieved from []

Prensky, M. (2005). Engage me or enrage me: What today’s learners demand. Educause Review, 40(5), 60–65. Retrieved from __ [] __

_ 12/29/10  From **Theresa:** Hello! I have found two extremely interesting articles from the resources that complement each other and would synthesize well. The first one was found in the Oblinger e-book, Chapter 5 - The Student's Perspective, written by Carrie Windham. The article is written from the first person perspective and makes very clear what Millenials/Net-Genners are wanting from education, especially teachers and administrators. The second is "Growing up digital: The rise of the net generation by Don Tapscott. He writes from his own experience and speaks of what the Millenials/Net-Genners want from their education.

As an example, Tapscott says about the Net-Geners that they are "exceptionally currious, self-reliant, contrarian, smart, focused, able to adapt, high in self-esteem, and has a global orientation" (1998, p. 2). Ms. Windham, writing in 2005, echoes what Mr. Tapscott says when she says, "We are academically driven, family oriented, and racially and ethnically diverse. We are committed to telling the truth and traditional values, yet we refuse to accept our elders' speeches or semons at face value. We are not politically active, but community centered. We truly believe we have the tools and the desire to solve the lingering problems that our parents' generation has left behind" (p. 5.3).

Both articles talk about the need for more face-to-face interaction with teachers and other faculty. as well as other students, as technology continues to evolve and more and more face time is lost. They also speak of the desire for the Millenials/N-Geners to learn by discovery and exploration (experiential learning). They speak of using a constructivist approach to teaching and learning. I found it very enlightening when Ms. Windham spoke of "the acceptenace and emphasis on social responsibility has also changed the way the Net Generation (Millenials) looks at careers. Priority within our ranks is placed less on monetary value and fame than happiness and "doing something good" (2005, p. 5.5).

I think it would work very well to get a student's perspective in our presentation. This article is well written and somewhat eye-opening for me.

12/30/10 From **Deb**: Theresa, awesome synthesis. I also found some examples for GenXer that included the creator of TOMS shoes and Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook. While Blake Mycoskie, of TOMS shoes was born in 1976, right in the middle of the GenX years, Mark Zuckerberg was born in 1984, right on the cusp of the Millennial generation. Since these individual are relatively well-known, the can depict the innovative nature of this generation. Although Mycoskie is of the Gen X years, some of his college years were during the Millennial years and I think this influence his desire to build a business that not only created an income but also allowed him to provide for needy children in other countries. Millennials are often involved in community service and volunteerism - TOMS shows is a great example of being born into one generation, but attending school in another can make a difference in the achievements of the student. The following resources were not in our original group but were necessary for the examples:

Grossman, L. (2010). Mark Zuckerberg. Person of the Year. Time.com. Retrieved from []

Laws, B. (n.d.) Blake Mycoskie '95 Speaks in Chapel. St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. Alumni. Retrieved from []

12/30/10 From **Lisa:**

I  am finding the other course that I am taking: Technology & Learning is synthesizing quite nicely with this course! I have found two articles from the past two weeks that pertain to Digital Natives and Neomillennial Learning Styles. One is entitled "Planning for Neomillennial Learning Styles" by Chris Dede, and yet another Marc Pensky artle: The Emerging Online Life of the Digital Native: What they do differently because of technology, and how they do it."

In regards to Chris Dede's article, he discusses that his teenage daughter "does her homework by simultaneously reading her book, listening to her MP3 player, emailing her friends, surfing the Net, anc chatting with six of her classmates with instant messaging." Whether multitasking results in a superficial easily distracted style of gaining information, or a sophisticated form of synthesizing new insights depends on the ways the learning style is used (Dede, C. 2005).

I have to agree with the statement made in Prensky’s article: “Students are not just using technology differently, but are approaching their life and daily activities differently because of technology” (Prensky, 2004, p. 1). A good example is email and chatting. Students can communicate synchronously with others, instead of writing on paper.

Dede, Chris. (2005). Planning for neomillennial learning styles. Educause Quarterly, 1, 7–12.

Prensky, M. (2004). The emerging online life of the digital native: What they do differently because of technology, and how they do it. Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-The_Emerging_Online_Life_of_the_Digital_Native-03.pdf

__**Cheri Gaydos Synthesis:**__ Grossman, L. (2010). Mark Zuckerberg. Person of the Year. Time.com. Retrieved from [] Brown, B. L. (1997). New learning strategies for Generation X. //ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult Career and Vocational Education//. Retrieved from __ [] __ Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. Retrieved from __ [] __ Laws, B. (n.d.) Blake Mycoskie '95 Speaks in Chapel. St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. Alumni. Retrieved from [] Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Part II. Retrieved from [] Prensky, M. (2005). Engage me or enrage me: What today’s learners demand. Educause Review, 40(5), 60–65. Retrieved from __ [] __ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Prensky, M. (2004). The emerging online life of the digital native: What they do differently because of technology, and how they do it. Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-The_Emerging_Online_Life_of_the_Digital_Native-03.pdf <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dede, Chris. (2005). Planning for neomillennial learning styles. Educause Quarterly, 1, 7–12.
 * Based on the resources we have selected, and the suggestion from Dr. Porter to narrow down our project ideas to be as specific as possible, I think Deb's idea of focusing on two very tangible figures is a great centerpiece for our project. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, if we go that direction, we might want to change our organizational strategy to chronological. If we do this, we could concentrate first on generation X/Mark Zuckerberg using these resources: **
 * Then we use the following resources to concentrate on Y/ Blake Mycoskie :**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First, I don't know that I specifically want to use individuals as our way of displaying the differences between these two groups. I think we do need examples and I am just familiar with the two that I mentioned. Even though Mycoskie is a GenXer who may follow the basic lines of a GenXer, at the same time, his volunteerism and sense of community is a characteristic of a GenYer. Mark Zuckerberg shows both groups as well. I find the overlap very interesting and like the idea of using them. However, I am not sure we should focus strictly on these two individuals. Also, I have not researched their life as to how closely it follows the general guidelines for their respective generations. I really want to know what the others think of the idea of using specific individuals. It might work, IF the individuals follow the differences...but how can we explain their learning differences is we do not know their life history?
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">12/31/10 Deb Polson Comments **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">12/31 Theresa Carlson comments **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think it would be helpful to spotlight individuals who embody the characteristics of different generations, but not really making them the whole focus of the presentation. I believe that would be too limiting and gets away from the point of the project which is the digital natives and immigrants as a whole. **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Okay, I agree with Theresa and Deb. No one was on the chat tonight at 6pm, and our final two synthesis ideas are due tonight. I think we will go with an organizational strategy of conceptual as originally discussed. We will synthesize the information using the resources discussed above which seem to compliment each other and contain the basic information we need as well as specific examples? I hope everyone has a great New Year!!
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">12/31 Cheri Gaydos **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1/2 Cheri Gaydos **

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. Retrieved from __ [] __ Brown, B. L. (1997). New learning strategies for Generation X. //ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult Career and Vocational Education//. Retrieved from __ [] __ Ohler, L. (n.d.). //Digital Immigrants teaching digital natives: Strategies for patient education in the 21st century.// [Transcript]. Presentation for NATCO Annual Conference. New York, NY. Retrieved from __ [] __ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Grossman, L. (2010). Mark Zuckerberg. Person of the Year. Time.com. Retrieved from [] Brown, B. L. (1997). New learning strategies for Generation X. //ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult Career and Vocational Education//. Retrieved from __ [] __
 * Synthesis 1:** Use variety of sources as listed above to identify the characteristics of digital natives and digital immigrants by using specific generations X and Y.
 * Synthesis 2:** Some of the articles are clearly author bias, we will need to mix the bias/stereotype with factual information to come up with our own definition of each generation. Use the specific examples from the articles listed below to demonstrate the differences in generations

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Part II. Retrieved from []
 * Synthesis 3:** Identify the learning technologies and styles for generation X.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Synthesis 4:** Identify the technologies and learning styles for generation Y. (Theresa) Net-Geners that they are "exceptionally currious, self-reliant, contrarian, smart, focused, able to adapt, high in self-esteem, and has a global orientation" (1998, p. 2). Ms. Windham, writing in 2005, echoes what Mr. Tapscott says when she says, "We are academically driven, family oriented, and racially and ethnically diverse. We are committed to telling the truth and traditional values, yet we refuse to accept our elders' speeches or semons at face value. We are not politically active, but community centered. We truly believe we have the tools and the desire to solve the lingering problems that our parents' generation has left behind" (p. 5.3). Prensky, M. (2005). Engage me or enrage me: What today’s learners demand. Educause Review, 40(5), 60–65. Retrieved from __ [] __ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dede, Chris. (2005). Planning for neomillennial learning styles. Educause Quarterly, 1, 7–12. (Dana) This resource focuses specifically on the learning styles and needs of the current millenial student/learner. Some of the topics discussed are similar to that of the information in the following resource: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">[] : While this article is not as thorough, we can absolutely create a factual overview of characteristics for the millenial generation from these two articles.

Prensky, M. (2005). Engage me or enrage me: What today’s learners demand. Educause Review, 40(5), 60–65. Retrieved from __ [] __ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Prensky, M. (2004). The emerging online life of the digital native: What they do differently because of technology, and how they do it. Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-The_Emerging_Online_Life_of_the_Digital_Native-03.pdf <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dede, Chris. (2005). Planning for neomillennial learning styles. Educause Quarterly, 1, 7–12.
 * Synthesis 5:** Discuss how we will combine the information we found in our resources to show if/how learning outcome has ended up with generation Y building on what generation X started.