Learning strategies are not based wholly on how one actually retains the material. One’s generation also contributes, a South Campus coordinator said last week.

In a seminar presented Sept. 1, Chris Carcerano of the academic success center discussed different generation gaps and various learning styles.

“The best thing you can do for yourself is learn your strengths,” Carcerano said.

The seminar, titled What’s Your Learning Style? Why Does it Matter?, focused on helping students determine which technique they should use from within themselves.

Carcerano compared generations such as the boomers, 13ers and the millennials.

“Our present generation is better off because of the change the [boomers] made,” he said.

Boomers consist of the generation born after World War II. Carcerano said this group has “high self-esteem with self-indulgence,” which plays a part in their “over-parented generation.” They have “guided educational personalities” because they were being cared for by the older population, he said.

The 13ers “are more indulgent because they raised themselves,” he said. “They didn’t have much guidance.”

Carcerano said this generation has a more hands-on approach at learning.

“The 13ers can put together a computer but have some trouble solving an algebra problem,” he said.

The millennial generation comprises the population mainly younger than 40 years old. Carcerano said society is trying to help improve the millennials with efforts through media and education.

Parents are trying to preserve their children’s innocence in a “nurturing environment,” Carcerano said.

“Everyone gets a trophy, so no one gets their feelings hurt.”

Carcerano said the millennials are impatient and rely on technology.

“This generation need[s] to be more patient,” he said. “It’s the element we’re lacking.”

While discussing each generation, Carcerano described the differences between visual learners, auditory learners, reading/writing learners and kinesthetic learners.

If students want to learn more about their learning strategies, they can visit the center for academic success in SACA 1106 for the E-LASSI learning assessment. One can also visit http://www.Idpride.net/learning_style.html.