Lesson 4: Bridging the Generation Gap

Alvin Toffler's classic book Future Shock (1970) argued that in our world of ever-quickening change, the human mind is threatened by shattering. In the early 1970s, Alvin Toffler's book Future Shock brought the radical change in the use and perception of time into the center of futures studies. In the book, Toffler defines the term "future shock" as a certain psychological state of individuals and entire societies. His shortest definition for the term is a personal perception of "too much change in too short a period of time". Toffler argued that society is undergoing an enormous structural change, a revolution from an industrial society to a "super-industrial society". This change overwhelms people. He believed the accelerated rate of technological and social change left people disconnected and suffering from "shattering stress and disorientation"—future shocked. Toffler stated that the majority of social problems are symptoms of future shock. In his discussion of the components of such shock, he popularized the term "information overload”. Observing this in reality has been very overwhelming for the rest of us especially to our parents and grandparents. The sudden change, release and implementation of different technological devices have given rise to difficulties to bridge the gap from the old generation to the new generation. This is actually good news for us for we have developed many ways of making human life easier but the constant and non – stop progress is too much for some people. They just tend to stick with the old than with the new due to the complexity of these futuristic devices. Although these technologies have sprung education to new heights like videos, presentations and etc. , there are some downsides to these as well. They tend to be a distraction to children’s studies nowadays unlike before where backyard playmates are the only enemies of parents in their children’s education. As we all can see, there are both positive and negative effects of futurism to the human race. The only thing we can hope for is that we never forget to learn from our past as we all progress to the future ahead of us and for us to adapt and bridge the gap between the past and future generations.

Educational Technology II (Lesson 3: Understanding Technology Learners)

We are now adapting on the 21^st century. Nowadays, learners have a deeper understanding about technology and they appear smarter. They even exposed and almost always rely on the internet. How can we understand technology learners?

We have observed that learners nowadays always rely on technologies. They are talking with friends on their cellphones, sending text messages, interacting through social internet, playing and surfing. We can say that what they’re doing have negative and positive effects on the learners. These technologies strengthen neural circuits. It also makes technical revolution faster and better than ever before.

From Jean Piaget’s presented chart rom childhood to adulthood, we experienced having susceptible minds in the first two years where we are easily influenced or affected by something or someone. We are acquiring communication skills on six years. There is a transition of concrete thinking in teenage years and we experienced abstract thinking and reasoning in adult years. By that presented chart, even in our early years, we can easily adapt to the new technologies and even enhance it until we are getting older.

By Jean Piaget’s presentation, I realized that we should understand our students being exposed and re keep on relying on technologies. We understand that 21^st century learners are having such skills and knowledge about new technologies, create new social relationships and having new beliefs and values.

As a future teacher, I should go through video presentation, group activities and other technology-based instruction that will make m students alive and active.