Book Review: Generation on a Tightrope, April 2, 2014

Generation on a Tightrope by Arthur Levine and Diane Dean (Jossey-Bass, 2012) describes our current generation of college students and their struggle to achieve their dreams and aspirations in the difficult economic times that students are facing upon graduation.  It is based on research completed from 2006-2009 on about 5,000 undergraduates and describes college students born in the 1990's.  This new generation has been given many labels including Generation Z, the Internet Generation and the iGeneration, to name a few.

Today's college students remain hopeful about their futures, but are facing difficulties upon graduation.  Students are graduating with an average of $31,500 in student loan debt for a bachelor's degree and 9.1% of current graduates are unemployed.  Many of them (25% of 18-29 year olds) deal with the situation by moving back home with their parents.

This is the first generation of digital natives and the use of technology is the most important characteristic of this new generation.  The authors present some interesting statistics: (p. 23)

For adults 18-35 years old:

• 95% have cell phones 
• 74% have iPods or other MP3 players
• 70% have laptop computers
• 63% have game consoles
• Only 1% have none of the above devices
• 57% of four-year college students and 38% of community college students check their Facebook pages daily
• 35% are more likely to join a Facebook group than join a similar on campus group.

When students were asked how education could be improved, they replied as follows: (p. 47)    

• 78% reported that education could be improved if their professors made greater use of technology (and knew how to use it)
• 52% want more blended education.
• 33% want more totally online courses.

Here are some other characteristics of this new generation:

They are:

• the most diverse group in the history of higher education.
• more connected through digital media, but lack interpersonal skills.
• described as a digital tribe that consists of friends and family connected through digital media such as Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn.
• reported to be more immature, dependent, and feel more entitled than previous generations.
• pragmatic and career oriented.
• lacking in basic skills (66% of community college students and 29% of four-year students are enrolled in remedial courses. (p.46)
• dealing with rapid change in society.

Their main reasons for going to college are jobs and money.  Most students (67%) say that "the chief benefit of a college education is that it increases one's earning power." (p. 38)

Their preferred learning mode is practical and interactive while professors prefer abstract and theoretical (reading and lecture).

To prepare students for the future, the authors make these suggestions:

• Prepare students to deal with change by teaching critical thinking, creativity, and continual learning.  
• Prepare students for life in a digital society.  "The Internet needs to replace the blackboard." (p. 185)
• Move from an emphasis on teaching to an emphasis on learning.  Seat time does not guarantee learning.
• Prepare students for life in a diverse, global society.  
• Prepare students for an economy in recession.  The authors state that career counseling is "too little, too late." (p. 180)  Career development should begin during the first college orientation and continue throughout college.  It should be part of a required college success course.
• Students need to have basic skills in language, mathematics, and communication to be successful in college and careers.  

Share your thoughts on the current generation of college students and how we can help them to be successful.