Citizens of the United States have experienced many lifestyle changes over the past 20 years: cell phones are now small computers, some cars do not need keys to start, and a Black president sits in the White House. New technology and the latest discoveries seems to cause more change daily. However, within all of these changes remains a consistent foundation of continuity in the roles of both student and professor. This is true of today’s college students and university faculty (born before 1980).
A list of the many differences in college life of today’s pupils and professors born before 1980 might start with online courses. One example that pops to mind is the option of taking online courses instead of sitting in a classroom with an actual teacher. Students can now take their portable computers anywhere and work online; they no longer need to wake up ten minutes before class starts and walk in wearing pajamas. If students choose to take a class face-to-face, most of the homework or lesson plans are on the Web. Now, Blackboard software holds Web addresses where teachers can post announcements, homework assignments, lesson plans, and class notes. Gone from the classroom are the traditional blackboard and chalk. Some professors recall that they had to type their theses with typewriters. Now, colleges offer computer labs in almost every building. Today, coaches get paid more than other professors and normally do not have to teach other classes, but they used to be paid the same as other faculty members and had to teach classes as well as coach their teams. This list of changes between then and now could go on forever because of all of the advances in technology.
Even though there are an abundance of differences between students from “back in the day” and today’s students, there are still a few similarities. Many classes are still held with a teacher standing in front of a room full of students. Teachers still hold conferences with their students about grades, attendance, mentoring, as well as adving them with their major course of study. Most courses still require expensive books from the campus bookstore, and everything else the bookstore offers remains overpriced. One thing that will likely never change about college life is that college students will still party and make unwise decisions. College, as always, offers degrees to further education as well as “Greek life” where students make connections that might last a lifetime. University traditions (specific to each campus) will always stay the same, because traditions are not meant to be broken; they are highly resistant to change.
College life has changed so much from when today’s professors were college students to being a college student today. Even though they differ so much, a few similarities remain. Universities will change with the times as technology advances, but some things will never change.
No comments:
Post a Comment