The older generation
often feels there is a generation gap between them and the younger generation. This
is apparent in simple things like the manner of dressing, socializing, more
intimate relationships like friendship and marrying, etc. Still, some old
things are difficult to overcome, as there are still the caste system in India,pre-arranged marriages in China, female circumcision in Africa, and theocratic
or religion-rule societies in the Middle East. Even in education, traditional schooling
has hardly changed even with the clear evidence of a digital world. Reflect on
how some teachers confine their teaching to the board talk-test method. In the field
of education, a huge generation gap also exist and it will continue to widen
unless some changes are adopted at the proper time. In peasant third world
countries where schools don’t have technology facilities, it is understandable that
the transition, to digital education may take time. But given the rapid emergence
of digital technology at times referred to as information and communication
technology (ICT), there is the need to prepare for bridging the digital gap in
society. First, we need to understand the potentials of ICT.
Given
the speed and power of ICT for changes, growth, innovation, it becomes critical
that teachers understand the gap that may be perceived between them and the new
generation of learners. Much of the old technology such as tube radio, platter
records, cassette tapes, celluloid movies, antenna television,landline phones,
have vanished or are quickly vanishing today. Even in communication, sending a written
letter has become tedious with the advent of emailing and web-camera
face-to-face communication. As sophisticated technology advances at a dizzying
pace, the complacency of educators to stick to traditional education systems
and approaches become futile, if not retrogressive.
Nothing is permanent and most people
are quite aware of it. Well I too am quite aware of it and there is one teacher
that I know way back in high school that really hates us if we talk about
things which is related to computer saying that we were just talking nonsense and
we will learn nothing from it aside from being lazy. But that time we convince
her that there are also good things that we learn out of it.
As of today’s generation learners are totally
engaged in computer because that’s what they are born into, the generation of
computers. That’s why there is a need for the teachers and for the future
teachers to really understand the learners in their own perspective in order to
have a harmonious teacher-students relationship. Also, as a teacher he/she must
exert effort to cope up with the digital era even if it is already out of their
comfort zone because that is the only way to prevent the generation gap between
the older and younger generation.
Nowadays, we cannot avoid the
fact that today’s learners are really quite different than the learners before
because today’s learners are more vulgar and much more advance. That’s why
teachers must take time to improve themselves when it comes to dealing with the
digital learners. Teachers must attend seminars and convention related to
technology because there are still teachers who are left behind when it comes
to using technology. So, attending seminars and taking time to learn is a must
to avoid the generation gap between the older and the younger generation.
As of today’s generation learners are totally
engaged in computer because that’s what they are born into, the generation of
computers. That’s why there is a need for the teachers and for the future
teachers to really understand the learners in their own perspective in order to
have a harmonious teacher-students relationship. Also, as a teacher he/she must
exert effort to cope up with the digital era even if it is already out of their
comfort zone because that is the only way to prevent the generation gap between
the older and younger generation.
