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With each new generation, pedagogues must take stock of their teaching strategies in terms of effectiveness and relevance. As we take on the education of the "Millennial Generation," those students born between 1982-2002, it is incredibly clear that the educational landscape has changed. These are students who have never known life without the Internet. Cell phones are readily available and do much more than serve as a verbal communication tool. MP3 players are in the hands of all. Text messaging and online social sites are the choice means of communication.
For those of us in other generations, some of the above terms may be as foreign as another language. While it is important to understand our students' technology-driven lives and adapt our teaching to enhance their learning, how much is too much? Are the time-tested methods of educating still relevant or do they not keep up with our multitasking students? How do we teach music, especially acoustic instruments, to students who are surrounded by electronics? To answer these questions, we must answer one question first: Who are the "Millennials"?
The Millennial Generation: Characteristics
What are we to expect from the Millennial Generation? The following list of characteristics is a generalization of the generation - it may not describe every member, but it will certainly serve as a good starting point.
1. Millennials Are Sheltered
This is the "Baby on Board" Generation. From birth, this generation has taken a place of priority in the world. Parental control can be found in car monitoring devices to their own Facebook accounts as a means of tracking their child's online activity. In addition, teachers of this generation have found that parents are quick to come to their child's defense, often being dubbed "helicopter parents." This, however, often leads to a child's greater trust in parents and those in positions of authority.
2. Millennials Are Team Oriented
As much time as this generation spends isolated behind a computer screen, students tend to be highly social and cooperative when working in groups. Group activities with a common goal have been incorporated since early childhood as activities such as baseball and soccer often begin before a child enters elementary school. Even when isolated from their peers, communication is still maintained through text...