Journal 1

Finding New Ways to Connect:
Professors adjust their methods to reach technological-savvy generation
By Eleanor Yany Su

The article begins by discusses how Beth Simon, a professor at the University of California San Diego, handles instructing students in her class while a third of them are playing video games, e-mailing, watching videos, or text-messaging. She constantly quizzes the student’s understanding of concepts by using software she created, she keeps her lectures short, and asks a lot of questions. The article goes on to explain how colleges are changing due to the Millennial Generation, or what some call "Generation Y" or “Echo Boomers,” (those that were born between the 80's and early 90's). Nearly half of all colleges have implemented some type of online course management tool and the amount of multimedia devices that are used in the classroom are constantly increasing. Many instructors find teaching this generation frustrating and exhilarating at the same time. They say it is hard to adjust their teaching style to meet the students’ expectations for multimedia components, but rewarding to connect with more of them through technology.

Questions:

What are some of the advantages to incorporating technology into the classroom?

It makes communication easier for the students and instructor and accessing course material is also more convenient. I am a huge fan of using the least amount of paper possible and posting information online that would otherwise have to be printed out and given to the students saves trees! Technology is constantly evolving and there are new tools being introduced all the time that makes the instruction/learning environment easier and more effective for all involved.

What are some of the downfall to having students constantly multitask?

As a teacher I would be put off if the majority of my class was constantly shifting their attention between my lectures and their personal business. I think that it is fine for the students to bring their laptops into class as long as they are using it to take notes. On the other hand if they are checking their Myspace accounts or sending text messages that is just disrespectful and I would have a hard time tolerating it in my class.