For the first time in American history, four generations with different expectations, communication styles and work ethics are working side by side in today's workplace. Yet, as the workaholic generation of baby-boomers retire, the very formal command-and-control environment they helped shape over the past 40 years is about to be questioned and scrutinized by a bunch of Gen Yers.

Today, many corporations, government agencies and educational institutions are finding themselves staffed with a younger, more robust generation of employees. This new generation of workers are challenging their employers to adopt a more informal and collaborative environment where the line between them and their boss has blurred. Training a generation who grew up under the influence of technology will also require a new approach in instructional design, as wikis, blogs, podcasts, social networks and other informal methods for collaborative learning are just some of their expectations.

As an instructional designer who recognizes these changes in the learning landscape and the opportunities they bring, I feel this is one of the most exciting times to be in this industry.