Educating the Net Generation

University Business, March, 2006 by Jean Marie Angelo

EDUCATING THE NET GENERATION Diana Oblinger and games Oblinger, Editors www.educause.edu/educatingthenetgen, EDUCAUSE Resource Center, 2005, 264 pp.; free PDF download

CALL THEM MILLENNIALS, NET GEN, OR DIGITAL Natives. For young adults, e-mail, instant messaging, and high-speed internet access aren't really technology tools as much as they are part of the lifestyle. Administrators who are proud of their brand-new wireless networks should be warned. Students might not even consider this a "technology" application, write the contributors to Educating the Net Generation. Digital natives are ha-hum about such innovations.

Given that the average 21-year-oLd has spent twice as many hours playing video games as reading (10,000 versus 5,000), according to the text, educators have to grab these Learners with image-rich environments and opportunities to interact with each other.

The book includes pointers and summation Lists, including one that sites the Millennials good points:

* They believe it is coot to be smart.

* They are focused on grades.

* They identify with their parents' values.

Editors Diana and James Oblinger, the first couple of higher ed IT trends, have compiled chapters from guest authors that cover everything from a student's perspective to design trends that foster Learning. Diana, a VP for EDUCAUSE, was previously CIO at the University of North Carolina. She has also worked for Microsoft and IBM. James is chancellor of North Carolina State.