In the article, "The Net Generation Goes to College", many viewpoints are discussed concerning how to teach our technologically advanced youth who are now at the college level. I agree with arguments in this article that suggest changes should be made to meet the needs of students who are smart, but fast-paced. This generation is not going to wait patiently as professors continue to teach in the same ways that previous generations have learned, as the article suggests, college students will find alternate ways of learning if the professors don't use efficient ways of teaching. Therefore, it only makes sense for professors to use these efficient means to begin with. Students won't waste their time going to class if professors are not teaching them in a way that they want to learn. Though this is true, I also think that there are aspects of education that can not be sped up or made portable for this generation. Reflective thinking and writing are essential to some learning and cannot be sped through. Just because this generation is used to efficiency, doesn't mean that they don't need to learn patience. I see how professors could become frustrated with this generation who won't settle for just any form of education, but it would be ridiculous to think that the higher education system would never have to change to meet the needs of new generations.
Briana Klostermann
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4 comments:
I forget to put my name in the first comment. I like what you said about reflective thinking and writing. It would be tough to imagine a classroom without those things. Sometimes reflective thinking and writing are better at assessing what a student as learned then a standardized test.
Katie S.
I agree that some things in the classroom are necessary and not open to change. I also agree that teachers need to become aware that their students are changing, and therefore, should be open to tyring new methods of instruction. Teachers could even continue with these new methods by coming up with different types of assessments.
Ellen P.
There is something to be said for the definition of "efficient". I think the more intelligent "Millenials" prefer to be attentive for the minimal time, taught what will be tested (or, in the university classroom, what will be needed in the individual's career), so that the rest of the class time can be spent on digesting the material or other classes' work. This borders close to the dilemma of "teaching to the tests" found in high school classrooms but it seems like students today don't have the patience to learn things that don't have any potential use in their future career.
I agree with your comments on reflective thinking and writing, especially with the problems of spelling and grammar even at the university level. It just goes to show how unbalanced the American education system is.
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