Are Active Teaching Methods Suitable for All Generation Y students?—Creativity as a Needed Ingredient and the Role of Learning Style

Nina Pološki Vokić,Ana Aleksić

doi:10.3390/educsci10040087

Abstract

Active teaching methods are emphasized as an important part of an effective teaching process for Generation Y students. Still, some individual characteristics, such as creativity and learning style, need to be considered as they can affect outcomes of the learning process. Empirical research on the students’ preferences for various active and passive teaching methods was done on a sample of graduate students from the Faculty of Economics and Business in Zagreb. Perceptions of students regarding 52 individual teaching methods, and teaching methods bundles were investigated. Findings reveal that more creative students, as well as activists and pragmatists, and especially reflectors while learning, do exhibit the greater inclination towards active teaching methods.

Highlights

Preferences of students in the teaching and learning process transformed considerably in the last decade, especially as Generation Y students entered the academic world [1,2]
It is assumed that newer generations will prefer more active teaching methods, especially the methods that rely on technology, it is necessary to bear in mind that different personal characteristics, beyond age, such as creativity and learning style, can be a significant ingredient in defining ones’ level of preference for different active or passive teaching methods
This paper investigates in more detail the effect of inborn creativity and learning styles on preferred teaching methods of Generation Y students—methods through which they prefer

Summary

Introduction

Preferences of students in the teaching and learning process transformed considerably in the last decade, especially as Generation Y students entered the academic world [1,2] This generation, as a result of its living environment, developed new attitudes and aptitudes [3], as well as different preferences for teaching as they prefer active student-oriented over traditional passive teacher-centered approach [4,5,6]. A paradigm shift from the teacher- to student-focused environment is especially present over the past decade [7,8], as more interactive and participative approaches to teaching, such as classroom discussions, case studies, student assignments, and oral presentations, are proven to be more effective [9,10] They let students be active in the process and “discover the solution using the “Aha!” principle—that which is discovered for oneself is learned, understood, and remembered better than that which is told” [11] This paper investigates in more detail the effect of inborn creativity and learning styles on preferred teaching methods of Generation Y students—methods through which they prefer

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Conclusion