host posted on November 05, 2012 11:45
Book by Roger McHaney
Review by Kiana Shiroma
Honors and Regents and Presidential Scholars Programs
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Regardless of whether higher education institutions want to face it or not, the wave of millennials is arriving at their footstep with backgrounds and needs very different compared to any other generation that have entered college. McHaney helps academic advisors navigate their way towards finding the best ways to reach and support this new student population. Readers do not need to have a high level of knowledge about Web 2.0 and its history. The author explains these aspects in the beginning sections of The New Digital Shoreline in a manner that is straightforward and easy to understand.
Once a solid understanding about the latest advances in technology has been established, McHaney then describes how these evolutions have shaped the expectations and actions of millennial students. Although it is not mentioned in the book, the reader will also learn how technological advances are shaping the assumptions and behaviors of earlier generations as well. In the latter part of The New Digital Shoreline, McHaney goes into depth about various tools and techniques that are available for educators to utilize to ensure that students get the most out of their education while they are in and outside of the classroom.
Academic advisors who are lost as to where to begin to incorporate technology into their offices will find The New Digital Shoreline valuable. Those who would like to learn more about all of the Web 2.0 tools available will also benefit from this book. However, it must be mentioned that while addressing the arrival of millennials, advisors must remember that not every student has access to and/or are comfortable with using the Internet. Keeping this fact in mind will ensure that all student populations will have equal access to information provided by their college or university.
The new digital shoreline: How web 2.0 and millennials are revolutionizing higher education. (2011). Book by Roger McHaney. Review by Kiana Shiroma. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, 267 pp. $29.95. ISBN # 978-1-57922-460-8.