Annual Beloit College Mindset List–Class of 2010
September 4, 2006 at 8:03 pm Robert J. Lackie 7 comments
I read this very recently and blogged about it elsewhere earlier today, as this always gets circulated during our new faculty orientations in late August at Rider University, but I thought Library Gardeners might like to browse it, too.
Once again, Wisconsin’s Beloit College‘s annual list is out as they prepare each August (since 1998) to help all faculty prepare for the academic year and the incoming freshmen students. I think it is a good discussion item for librarians, too, especially if you deal with 17 & 18-year-olds. There is a very useful introduction (“note of explanation” in yellow near the top) explaining about the history of the lists and why they do them, in case this is totally new to you.
My colleagues and I have enjoyed reading this since I arrived in New Jersey in 1998, and although we don’t always agree with everything on the list, it is always entertaining and informative–but…who is “Milli Vanilli” (#21)? OK, only joking–I don’t like to sing in public either.
I hope you enjoy it, too, as you browse the list that “looks at entering college freshmen students…” Take a look at the other lists developed since 1998, too (i.e., Class of 2002 through Class of 2010)–I really enjoyed reading these and asking the incoming students about them when I was Faculty-in-Residence at Rider from 1998-2002.
As I said, I do find these lists to be interesting, and, sometimes, very funny, but I thought these six items from the Class of 2010 list from Beloit were pertinent, or at least of special interest, to librarians and other frontline educators:
“8. They are wireless, yet always connected.”
“18. They grew up with and have outgrown faxing as a means of communication.”
“19. “Google” has always been a verb.”
“20. Text messaging is their email.”
“23. Bar codes have always been on everything, from library cards and snail mail to retail items.”
“36. They have rarely mailed anything using a stamp.
Anyway, back to work–got to get ready for these “connected” students arriving at our convocation tomorrow. Summer’s pretty much over for us here, unfortunately!
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1.
walt crawford | September 5, 2006 at 11:58 am
Hi Robert,
As I’ve commented elsewhere, #19 is nonsense–unless incoming college students are 6 years old, or all have severe ADD. Google ain’t that old.
2.
walt crawford | September 5, 2006 at 11:58 am
Hi Robert,
As I’ve commented elsewhere, #19 is nonsense–unless incoming college students are 6 years old, or all have severe ADD. Google ain’t that old.
3.
Robert J. Lackie | September 5, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Hi, Walt–yes, you are not the first to mention something about #19, and I think it is not meant to be taken literally. Beloit tries to explain some of these exaggerations in their 2nd and 3rd paragraphs of their “note of explanation” prior to this year’s list. I believe they are trying to emphasize how “google” has commonly been used most of their teenage years. Other items in the list seem a bit exaggerated as well (i.e. “always”), but as you can see, it does generate discussion. Thanks for the comment!
4.
Robert J. Lackie | September 5, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Hi, Walt–yes, you are not the first to mention something about #19, and I think it is not meant to be taken literally. Beloit tries to explain some of these exaggerations in their 2nd and 3rd paragraphs of their “note of explanation” prior to this year’s list. I believe they are trying to emphasize how “google” has commonly been used most of their teenage years. Other items in the list seem a bit exaggerated as well (i.e. “always”), but as you can see, it does generate discussion. Thanks for the comment!
5.
Marie L. Radford | September 7, 2006 at 9:38 am
I always find this list to be thought provoking and a reality check for those of us in academe who do tend to assume a different context for our students…
Despite the exaggeration, I believe the list is largely accurate. I will run it by my just turned sweet 16 daughter and see if I can get her to post her reaction!
Thank’s for the post Robert!
6.
Marie L. Radford | September 7, 2006 at 9:38 am
I always find this list to be thought provoking and a reality check for those of us in academe who do tend to assume a different context for our students…
Despite the exaggeration, I believe the list is largely accurate. I will run it by my just turned sweet 16 daughter and see if I can get her to post her reaction!
Thank’s for the post Robert!
7.
jislsnhd | February 11, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Yesterday, my boyfriend gave me a lot of Asda Story gold and I buy Asda Story Gold as the gift to return him.
The Asda Story money is attractive and I have plenty of the cheap Asda Story gold.