Lesson 4: Bridging the Generation Gap

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.