Educational Technology Research
Research on EdTech
Understanding Generational Differences
"You're such a Boomer!"
This is a common thing my students shout at my coworkers, and even me, when we don't understand the slang they use or the trends they are introduced to on social media. As out-of-the-loop as I may be, I am nowhere near being in the generation of Baby Boomers, but this generation--Gen Z and Generation Alpha--don't seem to comprehend that just because I don't fall under Gen Z, it doesn't make me a Boomer.
Although I, as a Millennial, fall under a technological age in schools/education, I still do not have as much exposure to technology as my students do. Gen Z and Generation Alpha are the two generations that have been brought up around technology since birth, and therefore have the most experience with it. I may consider myself tech-savvy, but I also find myself asking my students many questions about the Chromebooks they use in school and the apps/social media they're a part of. Learning new things that relate to and can help our students thrive is beneficial for any generation of teachers.
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Technology is viewed in both positive and negative ways. As educators, we can tell our students that there is no limit to their education as they have the world at their fingertips. Anything that they may possibly have a question on/about--something they do not understand--they are able to grab their phones or open up their laptops and find the answers they're looking for.
On the other hand, since students are exposed to so much screen-time (for educational purposes), we ask them to leave their devices off when they get home and enjoy time with their family and friends--to go outside and enjoy the fresh air rather than sitting in their bedrooms and glaring at a bright screen.
My generation is the generation that used computers minimally. We learned to type on computers and figured out how to use search engines to look up facts. In school we played on funbrain to practice math and grammar, and we completed STAR reader quizzes to check our understanding of the books we read independently. When it came to completing homework, there was no such thing as online assignments. Computers were connected to Dial-Up and disconnected the landline while the internet was in use. My generation preferred to play outdoors--go to the park, ride our bikes, and play cops and robbers until the sun went down.
Today's generations of children and teens prefer to do everything electronically. Communication is easier through a text message and meeting up with friends for group projects got easier through FaceTime. Playing Fortnite or Bed Wars is more exciting than going to the park or jumping on the trampoline. Kids cannot wait to get their hands on the newest iPhone or Xbox, and updates on life are provided through an Instagram or TikTok feed.
Although there are individuals who would view these differences negatively (for example, spending more time on social media leads to more cases in cyber bullying, which can lead to severe circumstances like depression, anxiety, or even suicide), there are multiple positive factors to having the technology that we have today. We are also lucky to have children and students who understand this technology and the way it functions, in order to teach us a thing or two. The technological advancements that took place over the years have truly impacted our society in the way we communicate and function on a day-to-day basis.
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An Updated Understanding
Students are provided with various types of resources and practice sites to help them get through school. Technology can provide them with modifications and information, which can benefit them in the long run.
As I looked over some of the articles on EdTech, there was one that caught my eye. The Pew Research Center posted an article on Teens, Social Media and Technology in 2022, where they discuss changes in social media and use of screen time in teenagers today.
I found this article interesting for a major reason: the findings they had discussed and graphed were quite higher (percentage-wise) than I expected. From experience, one could simply guess that teenagers and pre-teens today spend an unusual amount of time on their devices, however, the Pew Research Center findings state that 35% of teens spend too much time on their phones and online. 54% of teens claim that it would be difficult to give up their devices and social media accounts--majority of which are girls. This is quite the turn of events when comparing the data to the Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, 2021, which stated that boys spent about 2 hours more (a day) online than girls did. Based on that information, one would believe that boys would have a more difficult time giving up their devices since they spend so much time gaming online and chatting with their friends. Both articles include various infographics on device usage time between girls and boys, tweens and teens of different races and incomes, etc. It is interesting to get a grasp on how much screen time and access to devices and social media these generations have.
What the infographics did not surprise me with is how the numbers of teens using sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Tumblr dropped, and the usage of TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat increased in the last year or so.
Technological Light at the End of the Tunnel
Since students are constantly exposed to technology both in and outside of school, how can we make in-class screen time more valuable and purposeful in their education? As educators, we can limit their usage of social media in the classroom and provide students with positive and educational experiences using the web and their devices. One-to-one classrooms/schools should provide students with resources that can help them build their knowledge through creativity and practice.
If we were to let our students decide what they could do with their technology, it's pretty clear that they would choose to spend more time on social media and scroll aimlessly through their feed; however, we can steer students away from the negativity of misuse with technology and provide them with opportunities that can guide them toward a better and brighter (and technological) future.
References
The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, 2021 | Common Sense Media. (2022, March 9). Www.commonsensemedia.org. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-tweens-and-teens-2021
The Importance of Digital Learning: Gen Z and Gen Alpha in the Classroom | Michigan Virtual. (2022, January 27). Michiganvirtual.org. https://michiganvirtual.org/blog/the-importance-of-digital-learning-gen-z-and-gen-alpha-in-the-classroom/
Vogels, E. A., Gelles-Watnick, R., & Massarat, N. (2022, August 10). Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/
I'm happy to hear even Millennials are referred to as "boomers" these days! I've seen examples of both the positive AND negative come out of social media use. Like life in general, we determine what we choose to focus on. One thing that is clear, however, is that as educators we have to be more intentional with our use of technology with students.
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteI grew up without technology in the classroom and can remember typing my senior term paper on a word processor. I even took a class in high school called "Business Machines", which basically taught you everything you needed to know in order to work in an office environment. Today, you take classes on coding or computer aided design. You are so right when you said that today's kids are born with the latest technology at their fingertips. I cannot imagine what the future will bring. At least after Virtual Learning, my fear of being replaced by a hologram has gone away!
I agree that kids are going to partake in technology no matter what - whether it's in the classroom or at home. That's why it's so important that we teach them strong digital citizenship and the skills to navigate the internet safely and responsibly. Recently one of my students asked me if I heard about "the purge" that's going to happen on January 1st. When I asked what they meant, they said that everything will become legal in Chicago and people can do whatever they want. She insisted it was true because she "saw a video online about it." Well, we looked up that video right then and dissected the site it came from. Clearly, to me, it was a propaganda film made by someone who a particular political party who was against some upcoming law changes. I explained that just because we see something online doesn't make it true - I can film whatever I want and post it but it doesn't mean I'm telling the truth. All this to say, despite the fact that these kids grew up with technology, it doesn't mean they fully understand it or know how to use it properly. It's important that we still discuss not only how to use it for educational purposes but also how to use social media responsibly.
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