We also have many students who lack basic skills that they should have gotten in high school. I don't know if it is the students don't have the attention or rely too much on technology or if the school systems are not as strong and have failed them. I agree with Edward that it is very frustrating.
Technology has made the learning process convenient for the Gen Y students. For example, conducting research is much easier. Previous generations would have to go to a library and look through endless books in order to find information about a subject. Now, Gen Y students can simply discover countless sources of information simply by using a search engine on their smartphones. What use to take hours for older generations merely takes seconds for Gen Y.
technology has made a major impact on the learning process of Generation Y. They relay mostly on easy access, barely use books any more for researches and go directly to the easy media.
I think it has helped and hindered them. On one hand I see my students wanting the answers given to them, poor study habits and instant gratification. With technology these things come easy. Why should you have to learn to spell when you use abbreviations and auto spell correct.
On the other hand when something interests them they have access to a vast amount of data and can get it easily. The hardest thing I have is making the lessons into something that they want to research. When I achieve this, they usually do pretty well.
Said,
thank you for sharing this great example of using technology effectively.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Technology has made it easier for students to work on outlining their recipes ahead of time. This enables them to look at their recipes instantly on their phones or tablets during production.
I believe it has had a negative and positive impact. I find that Gen Y students are more receptive to visual education. They can't just read something and understand it; they have to watch you demonstrate it. Even then they may not get it unless they are able to record it on their smart phones and play it back when ever they want. Unfortunately for them, they can not record my demos (company policy), but they can take photos. This is my conundrum, the students are learning but they are using technology as a learning tool and a crutch. They spend more time watching the video instead of doing the assigned work. When you tell them to just do it and trust themselves, they get stuck; like the pause button has been pressed on the DVR.
Austin,
& this is a great chance to instruct the students on discerning reliable web info from the bad.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think it has allowed Gen Y learners to be multitaskers in the best moments and disorganized frantic scrambling people in the next. It is a fine line in my classroom between help and hurt-- often I am aware that my students are texting and distracted and not using their technology for learning, but for the student that never reads the syllabus or forgets to print notes and assignments, it's a fantastic boon. good and bad for everything...
I would have to agree. It seems that the Gen Y'ers are not able to demonstrate the most basic of research or communication skills. Every time I assign a research paper to a mixed generation class, I know that I will be spending most of my time trying to teach basic writing skills to the Gen Y students.
short and sweet, yes it has. when used responsibly in class smartphones can be a great educational tool.
From my perspective, I enjoy the ability to "google" answers to in-depth questions that student have during class. If something comes up that could lead to a discussion, the ability to research something immediately is something that I embrace in my class.
The fact that Generation Y learners have grown up with instant technology is definitly something that I have had to adapt to but that I also embrace. Many peers have problems with students using their smartphones or tablets within the classroom setting but i have found that it just opens the door for learning opportunities. For example doing a lecture on laminated doughs I will tell them to pull out their phones and lets look up laminated dough and create a list of ten items that can be made using a laminated dough. It's interactive, opens up discussion, and holds their interest. To try and stick with the traditional forms of lecture/listen/take notes style of learning just isnt going to work anymore. Different forms of media and technology at a student's fingertips can be your ally and not your enemy.
Mary,
I agree that we need to help our students develop critical thinking skills as they are key skills in many industries today.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Although it has been quite frustrating, as an instructor, to address Gen Y students; I am trying to incorporate more technology into my classroom situations.
I tend to agree with many of the other comments regarding basic skills in math, grammar and spelling. I am surprised that some of these students graduated high school without these basic skills. As a parent of Gen Y children I saw signs of this, and took it upon myself to reinforce the basics. As an instructor in a healthcare education setting, I am truly concerned. Healthcare requires extensive critical thinking abilities even with the use of technology. This is frightening to me.
Jo,
this is true & I think through integration of technology we have a better chance of introducing them to other means, such as books.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Because of technology, Gen Y feel the need to be connected, any instructional planning that allow the use of this technology in class is a plus for this generation. However, the use of a book for this generation seems obsolete and tend to have an impact on how much material they want to cover.
Andrew,
I agree & along with this, be aware of some of the misinformation that is out there so you are ready for those questions too.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Yes without a doubt students have access to information immediatly. So as instructors you need to be on top of your game and make sure you are stating the correct information because if you are not, students can check to make sure you
are giving corret facts.
Perception is reality and being that I fall right on the line between Gen X and Gen Y I have very mixed opinions. On one hand the Gen Y learner in me says that the impact is profound. The technology that we have at our hands allows for instant gratification when it comes to acquiring knowledge. It's amazing how many new things you can learn in a day if you utilize the resources in front of you. However, the cynical Gen X in me knows a few other things. That same technology can be used to waste time. It can ruin study skills and study habits when people get distracted, and after about five minutes that typically occurs. Another point that has to be made is that fact that most Gen Y students will take something they read on the internet and accept it as fact. If you don't believe me try a social experiment with your students. There is a fake website on the internet with clickable links and donation pages. All you have to search for is "tree dwelling octopus" It looks amazing but it is fake. I tried this with one of my classes and they were more interested in learning about what was in front of them (real or not) because they saw it on the internet. That is a huge negative for technology in an educational setting. Finally, face to face interactions. Gen Y students don't have manners. They don't hold doors, say good morning, they can't make eye contact during a conversation. These students are entirely too caught up in the digital world and as a result their face to face interactions with others are awkward at best. Overall, I think technology can have a profound impact on education and the learning process if students are taught to use it properly.
