Educating the Net Generation (16 January 2008)

It’s been a while, quite a hiatus, since the last entry; but I have not been idle. In fact, it has been one assignment after another and as a breather – I am blogging! What a change.

Educating the Net Generation was central to our lecture that day. Who are in the Net Generation? Apparently anyone younger than 21 in 1999 is part of this generation. Well, that counts me out! Years ago, having a desktop computer in the home was such a novelty and it was with great apprehension that it was finally turned on. Then with great trepidation it was put to use. Nowadays, I wonder how I ever worked or lived without my laptop. So, although I am not part of this Net Generation, I have come to appreciate what this marvelous thing called a computer, coupled with the internet, and other technological devices can do. So, imagine the impact this technology and media have on children who virtually (pun intended) grew up with them.

Dede (2005), in his article, Planning for Neomillennial Learning Styles: Implications for Investments in Technology and Faculty, pointed out how technology and media used by children during their formative years do have an influence on how they learn. He talked about 3 complementary interfaces that will shape how people learn over the next decade, which I thought were spot-on. I am witnessing these phenomena now…

First, he called the familiar “world to desktop” – such as through the internet to access distant experts and archives, like the way we would access on-line e-database and e-journals. It also enables virtual communities of practice. I likened this to our e-learning exercises or collaborative group work on assignments which distance and time do not permit us to meet physically to discuss, so we work on-line.

Secondly, is the “Alice in Wonderland” multiuser virtual environments (MUVEs), which is linked to all the advances in internet gaming, providing the participants with interactions in a computerised digital virtual context. Taken to the extreme, this MUVEs existence has created problems to parents whose children have become addicted.

And thirdly, is ubiquitous computing. In the real world, we see the infusion of mobile wireless devices with virtual resources everywhere.

According to Dede, the Net Generation learning styles stem primarily from the world-to-desktop interface; with a growing prevalence of interfaces to virtual environments and augmented realities.

Being aware of these interfaces now, how should I (who am not part of this Net Generation) react to those whom I teach (who ARE the Net Generation)? It would be foolish to react like the proverbial ostrich by burying my head in the sand and hope this will all go away, because it is not going to happen. I reckoned the best course of action is to try to embrace these realities, get to know the users better and try to understand bit by bit from their perspectives. It would go a long way if we show some appreciation too for some of their accomplishments, rather than oppose them and arrive at a stale-mate or a no-win situation.