How Do Millennials Learn? An Investigation of the Learning Styles, Strategies, and Perceived Academic Success Among College-aged Millennials

Abstract

Purpose: Research shows Millennials learn better by actively doing things than listening to lectures. However, there is little research on millennials and how they learn or what drives them towards success. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preferred learning styles of undergraduate college students and their perception of academic success.

Methods: Data collection included quantitative and qualitative measures that were used to collect data from a convenience sample of 344 undergraduate college students in a rural southeast regional university. Study was IRB approved prior to data collection. Data were analyzed using appropriate descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and coding of qualitative data.

Results: Findings indicated that 35.4% of the 344 participants self-reported as kinesthetic (hands-on) learners compared to visual (23.6%), auditory (17%), and read/write (24%) learners. Findings also revealed that only 12.9% of the participants “spend 3 or more hours a day outside of class studying; 34% “ask for help when they do not understand something in class”; 41.1% “feel comfortable approaching professor for extra help” and 60.6% “prefer a teacher who incorporates hands-on activities with lecture.” Millennials in this study defined academic success as (1) establishing effective learning habits, (2) attending class regularly to maintain consistent performance, (3) achieving academic goals, and (4) making good grades.

Conclusion: Incorporating kinesthetic activities in the classroom setting will positively enhance learning outcomes and academic success of millennial college students.