Unit 1 Prompt
The
Generational Differences and Boundaries described in the readings and videos
caused me to see my students through a different set of educational lens. Being
a Marketing teacher, I am familiar with labeling consumers based on marketing
segmentation, but their technology and digital profile has painted a different
picture. What I realize is that students
are more digital natives, gamers, socially conscious, multi-tasks, value
diversity, instant gratificationers, achievement oriented, etc. more than I
realized. The Generation X and
Millennials student interact with some kind of technology devices in their personal
and school environment daily.The
two videos “Vision of Students Today and Vision of K-12 Student’s Today,” provided
my examples of student direct responses to how they use traditional tools and
learning strategies versus using digital.
How
students view digital technology and desire to use them as engage learning is
an important issue in the education environment. Although today’s student is
tech savvy, they do not find the traditional learning desirable like their
parents or those born in previous years. The Net Generation and Millennials differences
and habits are very obvious which can be seen by their behavior and how they
react to education. I agree with Pensky on many the information he stated in
his article that today’s students are no longer the people our educational
system was designed to teach. They have more digital tools at their disposal in
their personal world that they use and the educational system has not figured
out how to adapt or incorporate them into the educational system. He also made reference to how generation
differences are practiced and perceived by previous generations. Educators also use limited digital technology
in their classroom because of their lack of training.
McKenzie
made strong points about Pensky failure to consider his findings a valid
research source for brain change, experimental group, and group identification. The errors he identified such as lack of data,
and incorrect medical reference highlighted the flaws in Pensky's article. However,
using words such as Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants are useful categories
to describe generational differences and boundaries. Pensky’s article presented great insight into
the lifestyle and behavior of Net Generation and Millennials students can be
useful to educators regardless
of the flaws.
Excellent reflection. I also wonder how much McKenzie skewed the incorrect medical references to his/her benefit to discredit Pensky. There seems to be such a dislike already on Pensky's article from McKenzie. Although I like some of McKenzie's points it just seemed to be more of a point by discredit of the article. I like opposing views, I just also like solutions attached to those views.
ReplyDeleteIt does make you wonder about the aggressiveness of the stance that McKenzie took. However, because the concept of digital nativism, which has taken hold as fact without rigorous empirical support, how else do people debunk them?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I get a little vitriolic when someone starts talking about "learning styles" for the same reason: it's not proven, yet educators are being duped into adopting curriculum (read: at the expense of community taxpayer dollars) that has never been shown to work (see link in my email today).
I understand the need for data supportive evidence, what I realize with technology education results in some areas that it is still a new area where information sharing should be positive. I would like for McKenzie to take
Deletehis critic comments about Pensky and conduct a study that would support additional findings for others to share. I would be interested in seeing how he would use this information and put it a more usable form as he notes.
I like your reflection and think you make a great point by saying that today's students do not enjoy traditional learning. This is something that we as educators are always struggle with. Trying to make the lessons you teach into lessons the students enjoy using technology can be both enjoyable and challenging.
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned through the readings is that each generational group have characteristics that represent their habits, behavior, and lifestyle. Although we understand that year of birth identifies an individuals experience and interaction with cultural and internet technology changes, these devices has had a tremendous impact on teaching instruction. According to Twenge's article, indicates that the Generation ME will have problems such as finding high-paying jobs, affording college, and having incomes that will allow them to buy affordable homes. I believe we are witnessing how technology is showing how the technology skills have a different demand than it it did in previous years. I wonder how are educators going to design and implement rigor lessons with a generation that do not find technology a threatening skill?
ReplyDeleteI think it all comes down to which districts (and children) have access to the technology. It also comes down to which districts are willing to spend money toward educator training to keep up with technology. Some professors I have had for example, taught old techniques that didn't even apply to the current job market technology wise for a few courses, which put us ten steps behind. Funding and access play a huge role.
DeleteYou make a valid point regarding the decisions district's make regarding continuing educator technology training. A few year's ago the district I was working at cut all Professional Development. I thought it was a disaster, but the bottom line was either cut the PD or cut the elective classes. It was amazing to see the results of the cut. Teacher's created their own learning communities and shared information on what they were doing and learning on their own. It was more work for the teachers, but helped them get through the tough times.
DeleteThat's more of an effect of workplace culture. I think if you polled the class, they might say that their colleagues would have acted differently (i.e., do less with less). And that's not a knock. As a profession, we're often tricked into doing more for less because of the children. Teaching is the only profession where I've heard people...intelligent people...say things like, "Well, paying teachers less will ensure that only the most dedicated will want to become one." Yeah...try that with other 'noble' professions, like medicine, law enforcement, etc., and see what results you get.
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