They view it as essential. But we have to find the right balance between using it and being distracted by it. Drawing boundaries and giving some flexibility where appropriate are necessary for success in the classroom.
Most Gen Y students view technology as a necessity and as a completely normal part of daily life. Social interaction is the heart of an average Gen Y student's routine and overall way of life. It's completely useless and a waste of time as an instructor to deny this so we have to embrace the technology and use it to our advantage. When teaching sanitation for example; I can have them all look up recent outbreaks of food borne illness. It allows for proper use of technology and opens up discussion. The advantage of technology is that todays students are more socially aware on not only pop culture, but with news, and other current events. We can make it a point to have someone share a current event that applies to the work being done in class. I just feel like we expend way too much energy trying to deny the technology and keep them from using their phones, when it does allow for interaction within the learning zone. I agree that they should be put away for tests so I just put a bowl up front that they throw their phones in until they turn in the test.
Technology has become an extension of their bodies. Smart phones and tablets have become so intertiiwined into daily life that these things become more than just tools. They become almost accessories; like shoes....we can use these...extensions to our advantage as educators instead of trying to figure out how to stifle them.
Jean,
I think you make a good point here for certain industries: not only are the phones/devices a potential distraction they are unsanitary & while it's a fight to keep them away, this is important to note.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
They view it as 100% necessary, all the time.
I am a culinary instructor. Having a phone or computer in kitchen class is a nuisance, and is unsanitary.
But unfortunately, we find that the students refuse to ditch their devices during their kitchen class, for the "fear" of being unconnected.
Their phones and computers are handy during lecture classes, though. Look up recipes, history of food products, etc.
Roxsie,
Sadly this is true as many feel compelled to respond immediately to friends.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think Gen Y Students view technology as necessity and a right. They think it is necessary to be able to receive every email and text and they have the right to check it and respond at anytime.
They are very upset when they cannot have their phones almost like they feel they are going to miss out on life going by. I do make all phones be put away prior to testing and that means completely away and not in pockets and if caught sneaking it during a test I assume it is cheating and fail the test. I have only had 1 time this actually be an issue. I do allow students to record lectures on their phones and even take pictures of diagrams on the board or PowerPoint, I figure being a visually stimulated generation if that is what will help commit it to memory I am for it.
Andrew,
this is good advice & again something that each instructor has to weigh for themselves & determine where that line should be drawn.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I prefer to use e-mail as a means of contact rather than giving out cell phone or facebook
information . I think having students contact via
facebook or cell phone texting is entering that grey area possible were certain students feel you are the same levels as them. I we are taking students on educational trips I will give my number to a student that I feel is responsible enough to use it only in extreme situations.
It's like being around people who all have ADD. Sure on the one hand it gives so much more information in which to find things. But on the other it makes it so much harder to focus and study things on their own and in depth. (A 50 year old science fiction story looked ahead when a government official proudly said, "Anybody can find anything, but nobody needs to know anything.") Basically in many--certainly not all--cases they don't have the skills. It is easier to read Wikipedia than compare different authors. I love the ability to quickly research topics and communicate with many people, but I grew up in a world of libraries and long reports where I knew how to budget my time to write and rewrite them. I just don't see so much of that mindset today.
So to answer your question: It's a part of life, but not one that requires much thought. Since it is focused around using one's mind that can lead to problems. But I suppose every generation reconstitutes information. Gore Vidal told Kennedy that the 18th Century political writers were better because mail was so slow they had lots of time to read and think. JFK didn't agree.
Carrie,
this is a good observation & unfortunately all too true. We need to help them learn how to break the words apart so they can be more effective at learning.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
They view it as a necessity to the learning process. Anytime I ask my students a medical term they are not familiar with, instead of trying to break up the word in to prefixes, suffixes and root words they whip out their cell phones and look up the word. It is very frustrating as an instructor. They do not expect to work for their information when the internet just gives you the answer.
Scanning some of the other responses, I found many teachers with the same experiences I have had. Being an English teacher, I often see my students using technology to filter through the mountains of information only to copy and paste something into a research paper with the belief that I'm not smart enough to see when punctuation and grammar suddenly change from the barely literate to APA perfection and that the website address listed on the last page is enough of a citation. What amazes me is how so many of my students value the information available to them without placing any value on the people who accumulated it. A Google search yielding an easy source is better than any hard-to-navigate university-level database, they think, since faster is better in the land of the technologically savvy.
jen,
this is very true & sometimes the best lesson we can help them learn is how to function without the technology.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think that many Gen Y students view technology as a necessary component of their lives. Many can't conceptualize how the world ever existed without it.
They view technology as a NEED and NECESSITY rather than a resource or tool.
Gen Y students, in my experience, navigate technologies (even ones that are new to them) with great ease and as a natural extension of their research, communication and production activities.
Karen,
I remember seeing an interview with Tom Brokaw (when he was still anchoring NBC news) & he was asked about his pet peeve & he said it was when the airplane landed & everyone whipped out their cell phones. I figure if a guy like Brokaw can wait until he's well inside the terminal to use his phone, I can put mine away for a couple hours too.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I tell my students, we are all busy people with lives outside of the classroom, but I only have 4 hours with you each day. If I can manage to silent my cell phone, so can you. If you have a pressing issue, put it on vibrate and answer the call outside of the classroom.
I have had to call out a student who was constantly on his facebook account and not paying attention to class.
