While I write here about educational applications of technology, I typically do not have the opportunity to teach a course specifically focused on this topic. This situation is different this semester and I am likely to spin off a few blog posts as a consequence of my preparatory reading.
I like to spend a little time at the beginning of my course to address the question of “what is it like out there.” The core idea is that we should not be willing to settle for our own perceptions but should be willing to explore a little in hopes of gaining a broader perspective. What is typical? What are the extremes? I try to come up with some quantitative representations (i.e., statistics) and the perspectives of some “advocates” to help students and I create personal understanding.
I assume my students will be a little confused. While I am past the stage of assuming the research will provide me a clear picture of anything, I must admit I am also finding it difficult to “pull things together.” Here is an example. Students in my class and others they take within our program read some papers by those who describe a “Net Gen” (for example a recent edutopia piece by Marc Prensky) basically suggesting that the experiences of “today’s students” have been quite different than our own and as a consequence these students will be frustrated by our reliance on traditional educational experiences. Extreme change is necessary.
I also assigned the recent Educause 2005 study of Students and Information Technology. This massive study of 18,000 college freshmen and seniors from 63 institutions collected survey data on student reaction to their experiences with technology on campus.
One might expect a survey of present college students to demonstrate the frustration that concerns those who are warning the rest of us about the Net generation. I invite you to read these perspectives for yourself. I read the college student data to indicate that “these students pick up many technology skills from their course experiences – students are more technologically sophisticated when they leave college than when they enter”, and students prefer “a moderate amount of technology in their courses.” Students value the communication options a course CMS makes available and like to look up their grades. I must say – I find their collective “expectations” disappointing.
I am interested in many of the same things that fascinate other technologists. Games and experiential environments are cool. Learning by doing makes sense. Flexible, anytime learning experiences seem worth exploring.
There is no doubt they use cell phones and IM as a “natural” form of communication and enjoy video games. However, what are the consequences of such preferences for desired learning experiences? I am not convinced today’s students are way ahead of the rest of us AND are demanding change. Maybe they should be, but what data make this point in a convincing fashion?
