Working with the Net Generation

Chapter 8 of EduCause discusses closing the gap between members and non-members of the Net Generation. The beginning of the chapter states that not all students would classify themselves as members of the Net Generation. I think this is true because I do not classify myself as belonging to the Net Generation. It truly does come down to accessibility. Not all students go home to computers and Internet access, and it is unrealistic for teachers to think that this is the case.

"Although technology-enabled interactive instruction may be highly engaging, many students, teachers, and faculty have no experience with it. One study found that in spite of the fact that 99 percent of K–12 schools have Internet access, as do most classrooms (87 percent), these resources are rarely used effectively." I thought this quote was interesting because in school I always found it funny when teachers tried to use technology, but it never went the way it intended. They pretended to know what they were doing, but they always needed a student or two to help them out.

There is definitely a gap between current students and faculty, but teachers can try to close that gap. Teachers have to be flexible, they have to take educational issues seriously and most importantly they have to be willing to approach interactive technologies because students will benefit from this type of instruction. Teachers also need to try to make their curriculum relevant to the students' experiences because this will make learning more exciting and worthwhile for the student. If I try to do implement all these things into my classroom, I will be successful with the Net Generation.

I really liked the idea of WeBWork because it provides students with interactive feedback. I think this is a neat way to assign homework, and this method will keep students engaged. I also like the idea of the Molecular Workbench because students will enjoy conducting their lab experiments by using this approach. This tool also allows students to be in control of their experiments.

The tips listed at the end of the chapter will also help teachers be successful with the Net Generation. Revisit assumptions--this will help teachers understand technology better, and it will help them implement it into their classroom. Engage learners--engaging students will lead to discovery and understanding. Relax control--there are no time constraints, the learning process is ongoing. Return to core values--even when technology is in use, teachers can still be the experts. Reflect on the true meaning of learning and model the highest standards--even when teachers are using technology, they have to set good examples for their students.