The gap between Generation X and earlier generations represents much more than age and technological differences. It reflects the effects of a changing society on a generation. Social changes such as the increase in single-parent households and households with both parents working, corporate downsizing and layoffs, limited opportunities for career positions, and economic troubles at the society level have combined to create a generation characterized as follows: independent problem solvers and self-starters; technologically literate; responsive; focused; lifelong learners; ambitious; and fearless. Effective instruction requires that teachers target their teaching toward the unique characteristics of today's learners. The following are some suggestions for targeting instruction toward the characteristics identified with Generation X: focus on outcomes rather than techniques; engage students in role playing and cooperative learning experiences; give students control over their own learning; respect learner's ability to engage in parallel thinking; give attention to the format of instructional materials; and engage students in creating their own learning environments and in completing projects that demand new skills and application of existing skills to new situations. (MN)