Have you ever considered the number of "new" technologies that have become obsolete during your lifetime.  Have you ever considered how much differently you might see the world if you had never come into contact with items like vinyl records of rotary phones.  Let me introduce you to a hypothetical 8th grade student and tell you a few things about the world as he or she might perceive it.  You might want to brace yourself for this:

• They were probably born sometime in 1997 and are about 13 years old.

• They were learning how to walk & talk when Google was founded.

• The First Gulf War happened before they were born as did the Cold War and as far as they know, there has always been a large US military presence in the Middle East.

• They have only really known two US Presidents.  They were in preschool when George Bush entered office in 2001.

• There has always been an internet.

• There have always been CD's and DVD's

• Cassette tapes are just as obsolete as vinyl records and they probably have no idea what an 8 track tape is.

• Answering machines, cordless phones and cell phones have been around for as long as they can remember.

• Since before they were in school all new cars have had airbags.

• The Cosby Show had its last season before they were born.

• TV's have always been in full color and they have always had remote controls.

• There have always been digital cameras with display screens on the back.

• The first Nintendo Games Boys are older than they are.

• The first portable MP3 players came out before they were in school

• They weren't in school when Columbine school shooting happened.

• The original Star Wars movie was released almost 2 decades BEFORE they were born.

• Stamps have never been cheaper than 32 cents.

• In their lifetime there was never a Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or Apartheid in South Africa but there has always been a European Union.  

• Most have never even seen a rotary dial phone

• Women have always outnumbered men on American college campuses. 

Keep in mind that this is just a partial list.  Consider how differently these kids might perceive the world with all the new technologies they are experiencing.  Consider the effects of MP3 players, hybrid cars, cell phones with cameras, the internet.  Any one of these technologies can drastically change how you understand and view the world.  All music seems to be free online, new technology can solve any energy crisis and all pictures can be displayed instantly.  Immediate communication is almost always available.  And just about any question you can think up can be answered quickly online.  This doesn't necessarily mean the physical or psychological needs of human development have changed.  But this might mean that educators are challenged like never before to make their curriculum relevant to their students.  Something to think about.

If you'd like to read more on this topic consider the following websites:

Beloit College releases an annual "Mindsets List" to help their faculty better understand incoming freshman.  Here is a link to their most recent lists:  http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/

Often times as adults we forget about the physical toll the use of technology takes on children.  This article from cnet.com looks at this issue in depth:  http://news.com.com/Is+tech+injuring+children/2009-1041_3-6073730.html

Here is a collection of 2001 statistics for computer technology use among minors from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration:  http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/dn/html/Chapter5.htm

Featured YouTube Video:
Understanding the Digital Generation - Ian Jukes

PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  Check out one of the links above for more information about how technology is changing our kids.

TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  If you'd like to read more on this topic try searching the internet for:

Digital generation gap
Children and technology
Effects of technology on kids
Benefits of technology integration

Have a nice day!

	Web www.180techtips.com

 

 

Technology Tips Index:
 

	Microsoft Windows
	Internet
	Computer Hardware
	MS Outlook
	MS PowerPoint
	MS Excel
	MS Word
1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35
36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45
46	47	48	49	50
51	52	53	54	55
56	57	58	59	60
61	62	63	64	65
66	67	68	69	70
71	72	73	74	75
76	77	78	79	80
81	82	83	84	85
86	87	88	89	90
91	92	93	94	95
96	97	98	99	100
101	102	103	104	105
106	107	108	109	110
111	112	113	114	115
116	117	118	119	120
121	122	123	124	125
126	127	128	129	130
131	132	133	134	135
136	137	138	139	140
141	142	143	144	145
146	147	148	149	150
151	152	153	154	155
156	157	158	159	160
161	162	163	164	165
166	167	168	169	170
171	172	173	174	175
176	177	178	179	180

Home & Index
Mission Statement
Links

Sign Up Now!
to get
Free Daily Technology Tips

==============

Free Quotes Slides
===============

Learn About It