My first foray into higher learning was over two decades
earlier when I was in my early twenties. Back then most students did not have a
cell phone or a laptop. AOL with its creepy, “You’ve got mail,” sound
notification, was the number one content provider on the web. Netscape was in a
serious battle with Microsoft for browser dominance, and Yahoo was just
starting to establish its reputation. Apple was only a niche player in the PC
business, known primarily for its excellence in graphic and sound editing, and
its commitment to academics; it was by no means considered mainstream.
Fast-forward to today and the world of higher education has
changed dramatically. Technologically speaking, the kids are a lot more savvy as a population than we were in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Unlike all
other generations before them, they were raised with an awareness of the
Internet. Many of them have had email accounts, their own computers, even their
own cell phones, since they were in their early teens. It is not unusual for
college students today to have a laptop, or a tablet, and of course, they ALL
have cell phones and use them obsessively.
As for manufacturer of choice, Apple is king. Their decades
old strategy for selling into the educational market and their marketing of
that segment have been brilliant and lucrative. While Apple has always had a
strong presence in academia, the popularity of the IPhone, IPad, and
applications like IMovie and Rock Band, amongst the Internet-generations*
(I-gens) has given the brand an even greater foothold into the creative mind
space of that population. In other words, Windows may still rule the business
world but not if the I-gens have anything to say about it.
The reason I emphasize technology is because higher learning,
and its student population, have become so technology-centric. Everything from
registration, admissions, financial aid, and even the coursework, is
conducted online. As a result, much of the communication that occurs between
students and professors, and students and their classmates, is electronic. At
times this makes life as a student easier, especially when you have familial or
work responsibilities in addition to your academic tasks. However, it can also
make things more challenging on a personal level when relating to your younger
classmates.
While I have no statistical evidence to support my claim, my
own sense is that the emphasis on digital methods of communication has stunted
the ability of our young people to effectively communicate face-to-face. I have
literally sat at a table conversing with a half-dozen 20-somethings during
which time not one of them took their eyes off their cell phone displays for
more than a few seconds at a time. Thus, the increased role of technology in
higher education can be a blessing and a curse.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of returning to school was the realization that the gap between X and I has increased dramatically. Even though we, as Gen-X, have helped to influence and establish many of the fundamental cultural elements of I-gen, the fact is that we are not contemporaries. The age-old rule of “trust no on over 30” is still alive and well. Despite our numerous, cultural similarities, the bottom line is that the kids don’t trust anyone who is the same age as their parents. Changing your style of dress or personality to better fit in does not work; if anything, doing so will probably make them even more mistrustful of you.
So how does a Gen-X navigate through the technological and cultural changes and challenges prevalent on today's campuses? How do they succeed in this environment given that they will more than
likely need to rely on their I-gen classmates to get a good grade? That will be the topic of my next post in this series. Enjoy your week.
*Internet-generations refer to all generations who have been raised with an awareness and practical
understanding of the modern Internet.
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