The first article, Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants, discusses the differences between older generations who’ve had to adapt to technological advances and the current generations who have grown up with technology. The main issue this article presents is how to approach teaching the current generation. Teachers and professors who’ve had to adapt to the technology increase are finding it hard to connect with students who’ve had access to information at their fingertips. Information processes at a faster pace now and many are trying to keep up.
One suggestion is to use less “step-by-step” approaches because this inhibits the creativity and freedom the newer generation has experienced with the internet. It raises the question though, of how to teach logic and similar skills. Unfortunately, the article didn’t have an answer. Being a math teacher, it is important for students to move past the “plug and chug” methods and really understand the concepts, but there’s no getting away from the fact that logic-based subjects are harder for students to process than others. Bigger concepts must be stressed and I do see a trend toward this with the way common core is regularly taught in schools and standard based grading is being adapted.
Generation Edge is a new term for me although I have heard of the Generation Z label. I know researchers have said there is a difference between the millennials born in the 80s verse the later years, but I didn’t realize they’d have their own generational labels. It’s interesting because the the dates Fletcher and Pierpoint gave would separate my younger sister and I. Like Dr. Siko said in his own post this week though, we must be weary of dates given. My sister and I were raised by boomer-parents so we both had that hovering support (sometimes a bit too much :) ) the article talked about. I do see a difference with how I use technology verse my sister though, but I don’t know if it follows the exact outlines the majority of the articles talk about.
I was born in the early 90s and have been raised on computers since I was two or three. My dad felt strongly about getting me acclimated to technology and I was constantly playing computer games (educational of course, mixed with a few Barbie ones) in my youth. Once social media started to expand with myspace and AIM messenger in my middle school years, more caution was used. There were constant warnings of “stranger-danger” and giving out too much information on the internet. My family was weary of buying things online for the longest time because then “they have your credit card information.”
My sister on the other hand, although we’re only five years apart, grew up with no such fears. Sure, common sense still has to prevail and you have to know not to share your address and social security number online - but she’s much more free to post information than I was at her age. Apps like Uber and Tinder, where you’re inviting strangers to meet you, still sound terrifying to me. My sister though, always tells me to get an Uber. Being weary of purchasing something online (especially from a reputable company) seems ridiculous. It is a different world, but I think this newer generation, while perhaps more cynical because of the economic and political tension they’ve experienced in their upbringing, is more naive to the past dilemmas involved with technology. Technology is no longer scary, it’s just there. Many are turning toward more private messaging applications and sites, but it still stands that they’re sharing information in one form or the other.
The question remains though, is what approach do we use with these Gen Edgers? I’ve heard many kids that abhor the use of technology in school, especially for standardized tests. Others like the inclusion of technology because it’s what they’re comfortable with. There’s no easy answer. I think there has to be balance with the old and the new, especially with math. I would love to hear any ideas on how to tackle this dilemma, especially the multitasking part! I have kids who try to do 10 things at once and it drives me crazy. While generation edge may be better at multitasking as a whole, it doesn’t go so well for 14 year olds during math class, regardless of what they think.
