Reflection #4

Apparently in today’s technological world, particularly the educational technology world, someone as me is referred to as a Net Gen or as a Digital Immigrant. The generation before us was called the “Baby Boomers,” but my generation y label has been officially replaced because of all the technological advances made in my lifetime. I remember the first time I heard about the internet. I was taking classes in the late 80’s at University of Central Oklahoma and the professor was telling us about this wonderful research tool that had linked libraries all over the nation. Thus was born the “net” in my Net Gen I suppose. Since then I have seen many changes occur in education due to the impact of technology. Research, gathering information, word processing and saving of information are just a very few that have made my life so much easier. Now today’s youth, the Digital Natives who have been born and raised with technology, would laugh at my former sentence and say those are not examples of technology. However, they did not grow up looking at microfiche and trying to hang on to note cards and sheets upon sheets of paper, or doing math just to figure out where the center of my paper was on a typewriter. With that being said, I’m proud to be a Net Gen! I am proud to say I think I am a healthy balance of knowing how to do things the “hard” way, but take advantage of technology as a tool, but not as a crutch. I have all the same “symptoms” as a Digital Native. I have forgotten most phone numbers because they are saved in my phone. I wake up and immediately grab my phone to check Facebook and Twitter. I am looking forward to purchasing an iPad so I can have it in my school meetings. However, I am still not a big gamer but do indulge in cards and mahjong on my phone. But mostly, when it comes to technology, I cannot multi-task. I used to take pride in being a very good multi-taker, but that never involved technology. I can help several different students with different levels of math homework, all while working on lesson plans and other items, but I cannot do my online homework, listen to my radio and talk to students all the same time like today’s youth can. If we are to assume that today’s learners have the “symptoms” or characteristics I have just described above along with the ability to multi-task as well, it does not change some basic facts about learning. Let me say that again. Technology has changed how quickly we can learn and assimilate information, but it has not changed good habits of learning. Students still need to know what a reliable source is and how to go about finding it. Students still need to use their own words and thoughts to relay information instead of plagiarizing. Students still need to know how to organize information whether they use note cards or concept maps. As educators, we need to remain focused on the end product: what students need to know, and not be so focused on the “how” we get to the end product. Net Gens need to understand today’s youth’s seemingly flawless coordination with technology. Today’s youth need to understand Net Gen teachers are trying to show them the necessity of using their minds.