Photo by Jason Kane, Instructional Designer, Schoolcraft College
On Friday, May 18, Vince St. Germain, Hunter Bridwell, and Sherry Barricklow attended the 2018 Michigan Blackboard Users Group Spring Conference (MiBUG) which was held on the campus of Central Michigan University.
This event brought together 90+ faculty and staff from 18 institutions – all focused on learning and collaborating to improve education with @Blackboard. In addition to the keynote, 10 sessions were offered on a variety of topics including: online science labs, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra features and tips, and building a success course development model with Quality Matters. For a complete list session descriptions check out the MiBUG Keynote and Breakout Session Descriptions.
Keynote Presentation
Widening Perspective, Shifting Focus: Adapting to Generation Next
Chad Kainz; Principal Strategist, Strategy and Transformation Services at Blackboard, Inc.
Eighteen years into the 21st century and we now accept that today’s students are different. Like their consumer and social interactions, students expect their educational experiences to be personal, streamlined, and on-demand. To a learner of today, the once sharp divide between face-to-face and virtual learning seems arcane in a world of consumer-defined seamless digital and physical interaction. And with careers being measured in sprints rather than lifetimes, the demand for lifelong learning is crafting new hybrid educational generations (and expectations) out of the old. In short, the 18-24-year-old “traditional” one-and-done learner of the last century is a fond memory.
Arguably, a college or university’s digital learning environment and its surrounding technology ecosystem establishes a student’s field-of-view regarding their experience, and enables (or inhibits) access and engagement. In his keynote, Chad will explore Blackboard’s research into the attitudes and expectations of five generations of learners, share his perspective on rethinking the student experience, and provide ideas for incorporating Generation Next thinking to create a more responsive campus digital learning environment.
[Keynote Slides]
Vince St. Germain captured the following notes from the keynote session:
Student expectations shift and change with each generation
Today, students favor experiences that are personal, streamlined and on-demand
What do we know about today’s students/learners
- 5 generations of learners
- 21% Gen X
- 69% Gen Y / Millenial
- 10% Gen Z
- Majority are working
- Majority are renting
- Majority are single
- Seek opinions of others/public opinion
Decision making attributes:
- Affordability
- Program attributes
- Location
- Career placement
What do you need to succeed:
- Advising and support
- Financial aid
- Distance learning
George Mason Student Experience Redesign Project
FINDINGS:
- Know your students
- Think holistically
- Act on your capability
What does it mean to support today’s student? Shape a unique experience that’s built around your institution and serves every generation of learner.
Closing Blackboard Panel
At the closing of the event, a panel of Blackboard staff provided a Q&A session for attendees.
In addition, Tim Atkin, Chief Client Officer (Blackboard, Inc.) presented a session entitled: “Improved Client Experience: Understanding, Commitment, Communication”
About the Michigan Blackboard Users Group
The Michigan Blackboard User Group (MiBUG) is a user group for educational institutions throughout the state to network and share teaching and learning best practices.
Learn more about miBUG on the Blackboard Community site.
On Friday, May 10, several members of the eLearning and Emerging Technologies team attended the #miBUG Michigan Blackboard Users Group Conference to connect, learn, and share best practices in using Blackboard in teaching and learning.
eLearning Technologies @GVSU 