Generational Shift: Why We Should Modify Our Instructional Strategies for the Next Generations of Aviators

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Air transportation has proven to be an extremely safe, efficient and reliable means for travel – a testament to highly effective instruction and training. Airlines are forecasted to continue their rapid expansion over the next 20 years needing to hire more than 2 million aviation personnel (Boeing, 2015). As Baby Boomers retire, at the rate of 10,000 per day/4 million per year, a ‘generational replacement’ or shift will occur with Gen Y and Z members taking their places in the workforce. Each generation is impacted by significant events during their developmental adolescent years. For Gen Y members, technological and K-12 educational changes have caused the biggest impacts. Research results have found this generation to exhibit reduced attention spans, shallow thinking as well as diminished spelling and math skills. Fewer individuals are reading books and 36% of first year college students report taking remedial courses, especially in math – all creating a huge gap in job readiness. The instructional strategies used in the past need to be modified to ensure these individuals successfully acquire necessary knowledge and skills. It is also critical that Gen Y and Z members be taught learning strategies that will enable them to be effective lifelong learners. Participants in this session will learn about those strategies, based in neuroscience and educational psychology, found to be effective in teaching both collegiate aviators and new hires.

Author

• Niemczyk, Mary Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Millennials
• instruction
• training
• learning
• Gen Y
• Gen Z
• job readiness
• Adult and Continuing Education
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Educational Methods
• Educational Psychology
• Higher Education