Changes in today’s world happen rapidly. Something new will appear almost every day during the lives of the current 2011 fall college students. The Beloit Mindset List and the Mindset List of Faculty greatly point out the differences between the two generations. However, as there will always be within the human race, there are still some similarities between both the 2011 students and the faculty members born prior to 1980.
The main differences the two lists examined are the pop culture changes between the current students and their professors. Many things have passed in and out of fame over the past thirty years. Students may constantly be talking about the latest episode of Jersey Shore, which virtually means nothing to an older faculty member. On the opposite hand of that, faculty members who reference such shows as Cheers or The Wonder Years have no effect to those students currently sitting in their classrooms. Differences in pop culture and what we have grown up seeing cause a slight rift in the teaching/ learning environment.
Another major difference between the two generations is the changes made to technology. Older faculty members would have typed all of their papers on typewriters. Today’s generation has never been without a computer of some sort. Personal computers have always been available to 2011 students, and they have always had access to the internet. Also, within the last few years, technology has advanced; creating touch screen tablet computers, and other smart devices such as cell phones. This technology would have been completely unheard of during the college years of those staff members born before 1980. The changes in technology greatly influence how students learn, and how they can obtain information.
One more important difference between the faculty members born before 1980 and the students of 2011 is how the world has changed its views on respect. When faculty members received bad grades while they were in school, it was because of lack of preparation on their part, and they were expected to work harder to earn better grades. That mindset makes perfect sense to me; however, not many students in this generation feel the same way. The mindset of current students is that if they receive a bad grade it is entirely the professor’s fault, and not their own lack of learning the material being covered. Professors have to deal with complaining students and their parents because of bad grades, whereas they would have never thrown such fits in their own youth.
Though there are many differences between the faculty members born prior to 1980 and the students entering college in the fall of 2011, there are also similarities. Both the students and the teachers are humans; therefore they connect on one level or another. Older professors prove to work harder to encourage their students to excel in classes. They have a passion about their fields and wish to share it with the new faces. Professors try their hardest to find new ways to connect with their students and provide a learning environment that is compatible with both age groups. Students, in the same way, will become more engaged in classes that they can understand and relate to.
There are many differences and similarities between the fall students of 2011 entering college and the professors that they encounter. The age gap between students and teachers will never decrease, and technology will never stop changing. Students and faculty members must learn to relate through the generation gap to help one another learn and grow, and to provide a good learning environment.
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