TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01 - TRADOC - U.S. Army

TRADOC Pam 525-3-7-01experiences to the learning situation, a need to apply what they have learned to solve real worldproblems and a need to feel competent and experience success throughout the learning program. 93What is far less certain is whether and how future learners will be “unique learners,” differentin identifiable ways from today’s learners, and the implications, if any, for the Army. Forexample, some believe that the brains and thinking patterns of this generation of computer-usersmay be different from those of previous generations. Marc Prensky posits that people brought upwith computers:…think differently than the rest of us. They develop hypertextminds…[T]hinking skills enhanced by repeated exposure to computer gamesand other digital media include reading visual images as representations ofthree-dimensional space (representational competence), multidimensionalvisual-spatial skills, mental maps,…inductive discovery…attentionaldeployment, and responding faster to expected and unexpected stimuli. 94According to Prensky, a unique feature of future learners is that they may choose to payattention in bursts rather than continuously. 95 He states that they: “Tune in just enough to get thegist and be sure it makes sense.” Numerous sources acknowledge this propensity for millennialsto pay attention in “twitch speed” bursts while multitasking, and bricolaging (or piecing togetherinformation). This has in turn led to a concern that the millennials’ thinking may becharacterized by short attention spans and a lack of reflection. 96 If true, the latter characterizationwould be especially troubling given that reflective thought contributes to adaptive thinking andadaptive thinking is a critical future Soldier competency. 97 However, others have suggested thatthe reported short attention spans and lack of reflection among millennials merely signify thatthese learners possess an invaluable attribute—the ability to evaluate information rapidly. 98Puchta and others point out that the most valuable skill in the twenty-first century probably won’tbe attention span, but rather the ability to multitask—another characteristic that may be morecommon among millennials. 99Others state that the bulk of current empirical evidence is not significant enough to justifychanging how the Army should approach training and education of millennials. Eventually,research may resolve the uncertainty about some of the characteristics of millennials, and theirpros and cons. 100 In the meantime; TLE products designed for millennial Soldiers will need toreflect our best understanding of that generation’s preferences. Considering their near lifelongimmersion in the digital world, it follows that these future learners may prefer independentlearning experiences that incorporate fast-paced and visually intensive instruction, that they mayneed frequent interactions with corresponding feedback, and have a strong desire to experience asense of accomplishment. Due to their familiarity with the Internet and cell phone technology,they also may have learned to rely heavily on collaboration with their peers as a part of theirlearning experience.These expected differences in future learners may drive the Army to reduce time, location,and source boundaries on learning for future Soldiers. The Army must acknowledge andaccommodate learning as the accumulation of knowledge from a variety of places, includingknowledge banks, experience, education, and training, with no set beginning or end. Learning for102