2008 Woodie Awards
Technology useful for Echo Boomers if applied correctly
By Brandon Himes
Rocket Web Editor
Issue date: 11/4/05 Section: Life
Recently, Slippery Rock University President Robert Smith held a discussion with the university faculty and a select group of university students. The topic of discussion was the new generation of students attending Slippery Rock University. This generation has been deemed the Net Generation, Millennials, Generation Y or Echo boomers, as they are the result of their parent's generation, the Baby Boomers.
The President held this discussion in reaction to a flurry of articles in publications such as The Chronicle of Higher Education, which cite the new way the Net Generation learns. I had the privilege to participate in this event due to the infamy I have earned through writing Bitter Bytes.
The stereotype propagated by the publications in question and many others is that the Net Generation is always multitasking, sometimes unfocused and craving instant gratification. In addition to this the Net Generation is seen as extremely busy, often keeping a grueling schedule.
The Net Generation has become accustomed to getting recognition just for participation. The generation appreciates discussion far more than lecture. They are most recognized by their voracious consumption of technology.
Examples are cell phones, iPods and wireless internet which have become omnipresent. It is also noted that we play video games often, which is foreign to past generations for whom video games were not as prolific.
Naturally, when a generation is so different from its predecessors it follows that when it comes to education they will be different as well. At least that's how the story goes according to many new publications.
This idea is embraced, rejected, or selectively accepted depending on whom you talk to. Those that embrace the idea say that the student of the Net Generation learns more from images, video and the internet than from transcribing a lecture.
They also believe that Net Generation students would rather listen to a lecture while simultaneously googling the topic at hand and instant messaging their friends in the class to learn cooperatively than just view a PowerPoint presentation. I'll buy some of that but as for the rest: it's a good thing I've got my boots on because it's getting deep.
The President held this discussion in reaction to a flurry of articles in publications such as The Chronicle of Higher Education, which cite the new way the Net Generation learns. I had the privilege to participate in this event due to the infamy I have earned through writing Bitter Bytes.
The stereotype propagated by the publications in question and many others is that the Net Generation is always multitasking, sometimes unfocused and craving instant gratification. In addition to this the Net Generation is seen as extremely busy, often keeping a grueling schedule.
The Net Generation has become accustomed to getting recognition just for participation. The generation appreciates discussion far more than lecture. They are most recognized by their voracious consumption of technology.
Examples are cell phones, iPods and wireless internet which have become omnipresent. It is also noted that we play video games often, which is foreign to past generations for whom video games were not as prolific.
Naturally, when a generation is so different from its predecessors it follows that when it comes to education they will be different as well. At least that's how the story goes according to many new publications.
This idea is embraced, rejected, or selectively accepted depending on whom you talk to. Those that embrace the idea say that the student of the Net Generation learns more from images, video and the internet than from transcribing a lecture.
They also believe that Net Generation students would rather listen to a lecture while simultaneously googling the topic at hand and instant messaging their friends in the class to learn cooperatively than just view a PowerPoint presentation. I'll buy some of that but as for the rest: it's a good thing I've got my boots on because it's getting deep.
