Facilitator: Will Ofstad, California Health Sciences University

At the heart of a quality Learning to Learn (Process Education) environment is the use of Cooperative Learning and Team-based learning supported by a mentoring process. With this in mind (in addition to the standard conference program structure), this conference provides learning experiences for teams with 6-7 participants and assigned mentors. At the beginning and end of each day, we have allocated space in the schedule for participants to share learning plans as well as discoveries related to both personal and team goals. Team discoveries and accomplishments will be reported in the concluding session of the conference.

Facilitator: Audrey Murray, Hinds Community College

The next generation of students have a set of skills, interests, and learning styles that can be either assets or liabilities in the classroom. This panel will explore new practices that enhance the teaching and learning environment for this generation of students. Each panelist will share their practices in a concept paper to be read prior to the session. Panelist innovations will be analyzed and key take-aways will be synthesized, enriched by audience interaction throughout the session.

Speaker: Breanna Apple, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Facebook. YouTube. Twitter. Instagram, Kik, Snapchat, Vine, Tinder; the list goes on. While it might seem at times like these services popped up just yesterday, for many members of the so-called “iGeneration,” it’s difficult to remember a time without them. The world wide web existed long before the oldest members of Generation Z were born—and now these oldest members are beginning their college careers, with new technologies in hand and new ideas about the way the world works. What makes this generation different from the media darlings we know as Millennials? How does the constant presence of social media affect the way twenty-first century kids form and maintain friendships? What can modern technologies do for a classroom, other than serve as a distraction? What does the iGen value? Why do we love technology so much? And what do all of these strange new words mean? In this talk, I will attempt to answer these questions--and other questions that may arise—and to provide an overview of how Gen Z lives and learns from an insider’s perspective.

Facilitator: Mary Moore, University of Indianapolis

Institutions have been creating new programs to attract and support the values and needs of i-Generation students. They also have been modifying existing programs to align with these values and identified needs. A panel of leaders in their institutional programs will discuss the importance of recognizing and fulfilling these needs. Panelists will identify the problem or opportunity associated with their program, primary objectives, summary of activities, selected results, and what the future holds for their programs.

Speaker: Matthew Watts, Tidewater Community College

As President-Elect of the Academy of Process Education and one of its younger members, Matthew Watts will discuss the generational differences that affect teaching and learning in higher education. Why are current generations different than past generations? How are teaching best practices changing to meet the needs of contemporary students? How do we get younger faculty more involved in educational research and professional development? Most importantly how do I get my students to put their phones down for an hour and pay attention! Matthew will combine personal experience with process education principles to create a shared vision of student success.

Facilitator: Wade Ellis, West Valley College (Emeritus)

This session focuses on international organizations and programs designed to attract i-generation students into college and increase their success. This panel will highlight how these ventures differ from those put in place for millennial students. This includes a facilitated discussion how these initiatives address shifting values, attitudes, believes, and skill sets of i-Generation students. Panelists will include eminent researchers, policy experts, and organizational leaders.

Facilitator: Shawn Clerkin, Gannon University

This session will involve up to 20 students from Gannon University who work along with faculty to interactively explore the true assets that this generation brings to college. This will include identification of preferences that this generation has for learning/teaching practice and definition of learning needs that this generation sees as a priority to strengthen their ability to be collegiate learners. Students will be paired and will do a speed dating rotation among conference participant teams. As students visit each base group, the base group will use their conference experience by asking inquiry questions to advance their team goals and reflect on their own teaching practice. Each base group and student team will produce two insights that will be shared at the end of the session.