Last night, the Mid-NJ ASTD chapter hosted an excellent presentation given by Dr. Karl Kapp, a familiar speaker in the technology training community. Dr. Kapp is a Professor of Instructional Technology at Bloomsburg University, a consultant on technology-based learning, an author…and a very good speaker.

He recently authored an excellent book (reviewed here) called Gadgets, Games, and Gizmos for Learning. A main thesis of the book is that young people who grew up as “digital natives” have quite different learning styles from those of us who grew up as “digital immigrants” (that is, we had to adopt computers and digital gadgetry later in life, as opposed to growing up surrounded with them).

Dr. Kapp contrasted the learning styles of the Boomer generation with that of the upcoming generation of workers, and outlined the need to transfer knowledge – quickly, and in ways that appeal to the younger workers! – before the millions of Boomer workers walk out the door into retirement, with critical knowledge also walking out untapped.

So, a question for you, readers – as you train the newest generation of learners in your sales training classes, what are you seeing as far as learning styles? Are you seeing increasing impatience with didactic learning? Addiction to multi-tasking? Readiness to question authority and find out information independently (and through informal networks)? Put your impressions in the Comments…

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