Students and professors today do not have a whole lot in common with each other. Students these days are in to all the latest technology, fashion trends, and music while their professors don’t really like to stray from their own comfort zones of what they already know. It’s a common problem between two generations known as the generation gap.
Students today have access to many ways of learning and have several tools, which make their learning experience easier. With online textbooks, classes, and tutors, students of today don’t even have to step into a classroom to get an education. In fact, some universities work entirely through the Internet. The goal of this type of learning experience is to make an education easy to obtain for anyone. While this may be more convenient for students, it does take away the luxury of being able to talk to a professor in person. Being able to talk to professors allows a student to create a relationship with them and feel more comfortable about asking questions and getting help.
Many professors used pen and paper, typewriters, books, or maybe even an early version of a computer to complete assignments while they were getting their education. They were also able to talk to their professors about classes and assignments. Many students today, however, use laptop computers, electronic tablets, and the Internet to complete and turn in assignments. Many professors are forced to use more high tech equipment so they can successfully teach their large classes. Smart boards, projectors, and electronic testing make it easier and quicker for them to show information as well as receive it from students. Some professors even use assistants to teach their classes for them while they perform research, service projects, or other activities. This means the students may rarely see their professors. Some professors have so much to do that they don’t have time to meet with their students one on one. These students must rely on study groups and graduate assistants instead of getting help from the professors themselves. This could ultimately cause the student to not do as well in the class.
Students of today also seem to have different mindsets than those of their professors. For instance, they may hear the same word, but each may have different meanings for that word. For example, a student may use the word “like” as a reference to a function on Facebook or as just a space-filler in a sentence. Their professors, however, may use it as showing they have interest in something or as the start of a simile. There are many words like this that may make it harder for some professors to understand their slang using students. Some students may not be able to understand their professors because they use big words that are not commonly used in the pop culture that they are familiar with. This problem is common with many young people because they watch TV instead of reading books that could help expand their vocabulary.
Students these days like Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Katy Perry while their professors are into 70’s and 80’s music. Professors like reading and watching documentaries while students like watching horror films and partying all night. Most students are all about what’s popular and new in the world. Their professors, however, are more interested in the problems in the world and how they can be solved. This all has to do with the generation gap which has always been an issue with different generations and, more than likely, always will be.
As times change, the types of students in college will also change. They will be raised differently from how their professors were which means they will probably have different values and ideas than they do. There will always be this generation gap between students and their professors.
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