How Millennial Are You?

What is my millennial profile?  After taking the How Millennial Are You quiz, I found that on a scale from 0 to 100, my score was only 41%.  I knew I wouldn’t be 100% millennial, but I did think I would be more so than what I scored.  Maybe I should have been born in a previous generation since I did not even get close to the required score of 73%.  Someone who is classified as a millennial is born after 1981 and is confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change.  While I was at school today, I had an older teacher take the quiz.  She scored a 21% and was not surprised about her profile.

I suppose I have some work to do, especially in the technology area!  Overall, I would classify myself as a teacher that tries to incorporate technology into my teaching.  However, in this day and age a teacher that “tries” is not up to par.  Since technology is growing every day and students love it, I have challenged myself to not just try but “do” more technology integrated teaching and learning with my students for the next school year.  I honestly feel that this class will prepare me to reach my goal.

In terms of the Frand’s 10 characteristics of the information-age mind set, here is where I am.

1.       Computers aren't technology - I would have to disagree with this statement.  I do agree that computers are technology.  Look at all the wonderful things a computer does.  If it weren’t for computers, we would not be able to access a lot of the technology in this world today.

2.       Internet Better than TV - This is a tossup for me!  I enjoy my television shows.  However, I also enjoy all of the social media I can get access to on the internet.   The reason I am going to have to choose the internet is because if I miss a show and forget to DVR, I can go to the internet to read and watch the show I missed out on.

3.       Reality no longer real - Agreed.  Due to all of the reality TV shows, magazine covers, internet, etc, I feel that reality is not real anymore.  So much seems/is staged that it pushes me away.  I am a firm believer to be yourself and live your life how you want to, not how others are doing.

4.       Doing Rather than knowing - I am a person that needs to know what I am doing before I can successfully do something.  I guess that goes hand in hand with my personality of being a perfectionist!  I would never get out and plant a garden without having a clue what I was doing.  I would hate for all my hard work, money, and time to go down the drain if nothing grew.

5.      Nintendo Over Logic - I disagree with the nintendo over logic thinking.  I think it is important to stop and think about directions and consequences before making an action.

6.       Multitasking Way of Life - I absolutely agree with this point.  In this era, there are so many things going on that you would get so behind without multitasking.  Right now while I am completing this assignment I have eaten dinner, talked on the phone twice, checked Facebook, and my email.

7.      Typing rather than handwriting - I couldn’t agree with this statement more!  Typing is faster and neater.  I can honestly not remember the last time I hand-wrote a paper.  I like the added bonuses of typing such as spell check, quickly getting synonyms, cut, paste, delete, and so on.

8.      Staying connected - Staying in touch is something that is a wonderful.  I like how we can stay in touch with the world through the internet, telephones, and even the media.  I am connected with many of my friends and family, and even my 80 year old grandpa, through social media sites.  Even though I don’t post much, I enjoy reading about what others are doing.  Although I like to stay connected, I am not always able to because the lack of cell phone service at my house.  I believe that is the only downfall of living out in the country.  Don’t call my cell in the evenings or at night; good old landlines!  haha

9.      Zero Tolerance for Delays - Well, what kind of delays are we talking about?  If it is a snow delay at school than I have all of the tolerance in the world - sleeping in!   However, if it is a delay in dinner, homework, or transportation then count me in on the zero tolerance.  My patience is one of the things that slightly lacks about myself.

10.   Consumer/Creator Blurring – Why reinvent the wheel that has already been created?  I am not saying to find a paper on the internet, download it, change the names, and turn it in.  However, borrow but give credit.

Thank goodness that I actually found that I agree with most of these characteristics.  I was worried after taking the millennial quiz that I would fail both.  I think it is important for teachers especially to keep up with the information age mind set. 

These activities relate to the ISTE NETS T standard 3 because they allow teachers to be knowledgeable on what skills they know and need to know for a global and digital society.  Teachers can evaluate and then learn to exhibit the abilities needed.

Frand, J.L (2000). The information-age mindset: Changes in students and implications for higher education. EDUCAUSE Review, 15-24. Retrieved from http://net.educasue.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERM0051.html

Pew Research Center. (2013). How millennial are you? Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/quiz/how-millennial-are-you/