The older faculty members and today’s students have grown up in very contrasting times. Although both generations are in a society thriving with technology, there is a distinct difference between the older faculty not having gadgets in their childhood and today’s students acquiring advanced technology since birth.
One drawback of technology is the loss of interpersonal relationships. Due to communication through texting and Facebook today’s students lack social skills. The majority of their communication is no longer in person. Many students have broken up with a significant other “via texting or Facebook.” Today’s students disregard the sensitivity of hurting someone publically. Another issue social networks have created is cyber bullying. Majority of today’s students would not have the courage to confront conflict face to face, but will do so online. The older faculty never faced these issues, socializing was done mainly face-to-face. If they broke up with someone they still had the decency to tell them to their face. All conflicts were dealt with, or otherwise avoided. Facebook wasn’t available to embarrass someone publically. The lack of person-to-person involvement is not something that should be encouraged. Despite the fact that new technology can make communication quicker today’s students should realize it is a privilege that should not be abused.
One drawback of technology is the loss of interpersonal relationships. Due to communication through texting and Facebook today’s students lack social skills. The majority of their communication is no longer in person. Many students have broken up with a significant other “via texting or Facebook.” Today’s students disregard the sensitivity of hurting someone publically. Another issue social networks have created is cyber bullying. Majority of today’s students would not have the courage to confront conflict face to face, but will do so online. The older faculty never faced these issues, socializing was done mainly face-to-face. If they broke up with someone they still had the decency to tell them to their face. All conflicts were dealt with, or otherwise avoided. Facebook wasn’t available to embarrass someone publically. The lack of person-to-person involvement is not something that should be encouraged. Despite the fact that new technology can make communication quicker today’s students should realize it is a privilege that should not be abused.
Adult experts accuse today’s students of occupying “deficits of empathy and concentration.” Constant connection to an electronic device distracts students from the real world. All questions can be easily answered by the Internet. Today’s students define knowledge as “boring, old ideas.” Previous generations had to discover knowledge through experience or extensive research. Today’s fast-paced culture has had its negative influences on today’s youth; instead of possessing determination and excitement about learning, students have an indifferent attitude towards their education.
One positive result from technology are the new opportunities for today’s students. Online education allows students who face difficulties in earning their degree. Despite the older faculty’s connotation of the program as “absentee learning,” it reaches out to a wider variety of people. Students who may have a child, who commute, have a greater chance of completing college via online education. Due to technology, they won’t have to be on campus as much as in the past. Even if opinions vary, creating a broader educational system is an achievement technology has given today’s college students.
Negative challenges both generations face are expectations of today’s society. The expectation of perfection sets everyone up for failure. There are a lot of “lazy,” “inefficient,” and “unaccountable” individuals in today’s world. The majority the older faculty and today’s student do not meet that cliché, because they have a career or are working towards one. Perhaps the demand for perfection has become overwhelming. Today’s students have to meet more course hours, and learn more than the older faculties were required while attending college. The older faculty also has increasing demands: “likelyteaching more and larger classes…at the same or less pay as faculty three or four years ago.” More efficient work should be admired, rather than the ridiculous amounts of unsatisfactory work. Both students and faculty should be given reasonable expectations.
Sooner or later all generations will face the same issues: “The “you” that is you will eventually become the “they” that is us.” Regardless of when the time period takes place the students and the faculty will both experience a time period that confuses them. This more modern time will be driven by a technology and culture that doesn’t correlate with the older time period. The older faculty may experience the tragedy first, but eventually today’s students will have the same experience.
One positive result from technology are the new opportunities for today’s students. Online education allows students who face difficulties in earning their degree. Despite the older faculty’s connotation of the program as “absentee learning,” it reaches out to a wider variety of people. Students who may have a child, who commute, have a greater chance of completing college via online education. Due to technology, they won’t have to be on campus as much as in the past. Even if opinions vary, creating a broader educational system is an achievement technology has given today’s college students.
Negative challenges both generations face are expectations of today’s society. The expectation of perfection sets everyone up for failure. There are a lot of “lazy,” “inefficient,” and “unaccountable” individuals in today’s world. The majority the older faculty and today’s student do not meet that cliché, because they have a career or are working towards one. Perhaps the demand for perfection has become overwhelming. Today’s students have to meet more course hours, and learn more than the older faculties were required while attending college. The older faculty also has increasing demands: “likelyteaching more and larger classes…at the same or less pay as faculty three or four years ago.” More efficient work should be admired, rather than the ridiculous amounts of unsatisfactory work. Both students and faculty should be given reasonable expectations.
Sooner or later all generations will face the same issues: “The “you” that is you will eventually become the “they” that is us.” Regardless of when the time period takes place the students and the faculty will both experience a time period that confuses them. This more modern time will be driven by a technology and culture that doesn’t correlate with the older time period. The older faculty may experience the tragedy first, but eventually today’s students will have the same experience.
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