Lesson 4: Bridging the Generation Gap

Content

            People have different ways of thinking thus; it is inevitable to not feel the gap between generations. The gap is evident in the manner of dressing, socializing, more intimate relationships like friendship and marrying, etc. In schooling, traditional methods have hardly changed even in the clear view of a digital world. Many teachers confine their teaching to the board talk-test method. These gaps will continue to widen unless some changes are adopted at the proper time. The first step in bridging the gap is to understand the potentials of ICT or Information and Communication Technology.

• The new network of instantaneous communication is global, overcoming borders between countries and continents.

• Much of what elders believe may not be applicable anymore to the new generation, especially along matters of traditional value system.

• Alvin Toffler’s book, Future Shock , shows how the information age has begun to create many cultural changes in the family, societies, business, governments such as what he calls the throw-away society, modular man, kinetic image, scientific trajectory, fractured family, surfeit of sub cults, psychological dimensions, etc.

            Since new generations were expected to face future professional challenge of digital world ahead of them, technology-supported skills need to be taught in schools today or else schools will become a white elephant.

 

Experience

It has not been easy to convince my parents about the importance of learning computer aided materials for schooling. There will often be a time that I would go home late at night or spend most of my time at a classmate’s house to do our home works and projects. I would often get scolded when I would ask for money to pay for computer shops because at that time we do not own any personal computers and my parents would comment that it is just so called “pa sosyal.” Until came a time when my parents was introduced to the ICT revolution and started to adhere to our needs regarding technology to cope up with the trend. Today, together with my siblings, we would teach our parents how to manipulate the computer applications and as well as the world wide web. 

Reflection

Given the speed and power of ICT for change, growth and innovation, it becomes critical that teachers and parents understand the gap that maybe perceived between them and the new generations of learners. Much of the old technology have been slowly vanishing or had been totally vanished and replaced by advanced technologies. Sophisticated technology advances at a dizzying pace, the contentment of older generations to traditional education systems and approaches become futile, if not retrogressive.  

 

Application

I should take my part as an agent of change towards the betterment of the future. Because learning is a continuous process, I should always update my knowledge and not stop at some common instance. I should see to it that there is balance in the application of technology in operating the world and not to be totally dependent in it. We should properly utilize and allocate our resources for the improvement of the greater good and cater the needs of the learners.

Pertaining to the gap, no matter how hard we try ti fill it but the reality speaks that the gaps were there to establish boundaries and limitations of every generations. We cannot expect everyone to adapt because as the saying goes, "its hard to cut when the roots are deep and the bark is old."