The Dumbest Generation? A segment from the documentary, Digital Nation

In a segment from the documentary, Digital Nation, asks the question, Is the Y generation the Dumbest Generation? Kids are learning differently than they had in previous generations because of technology. In the segment, one student said that he has never read an entire book because he doesn't have time. Instead, he goes to Spark Notes and reads the book in 5 minutes. Other students explained that when they are writing a paper for class, they will stop to check Facebook or play a game and then go back to writing the paper. Instead of having one big idea, they are writing with a lot of smaller ideas meshed together.

Professors that were interviewed about this question explained that they believe students aren't as prepared coming into college as they were 10 years ago. Students today can't read of write like previous generations could. Most people are blaming technology for this problem. Or is it a problem? Maybe education needs to adapt to the new way students are learning and living. One professor said that just because the "noun" is changing from reading a book to now watching a short clip, doesn't mean that it is neccessarily wrong. Educators just need to understand how to use the resources that are available and adapt to the new way of thinking by changing the verb!

I do agree with this. However, I also believe that this generation could possibly be the dumbest generation. In an article from USA Today, Mark Bauerlein, author of The Dumbest Generation, believes the cost outweighs the convenience in technology. "Kids are writing more than ever online or in text messages, but it's not the kind of narrative skill needed as adults, he says. Those forms groove bad habits, so when it comes time to produce an academic paper or when they enter the workplace, their capacity breaks down."

It is scary to think only 6% of professors believe college students come into their classes well prepared in writing, as it was noted in the documentary. I believe educators need to integrate technology into learning because it is the way students learn today, BUT, educators also need to understand that the technology distraction can take away from actually learning content. That is the hard part. It is a scary reality today.


Source:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-06-03-dumbest-generation_N.htm