Article One

http://www.mff.org/edtech/article.taf?_function=detail&Content_uid1=109

The Net Generation and the School.

This article is about the "Net Generation." The Net Generation has been born and raised off of technology, so much in fact that testing new technologies and gadgets is something as normal and easy for them as running the toaster. TV is boring and mudane to this generation because they can't control the TV station like they do the net. The internet is car and they are the driving, steering around to wherever they please. They control what they want to search, if they want to chat, watch video clips, play games, etc... not the TV stations. The Net Generations loves to challenge new idea. Opinions and debates are frequently generated/viewed everyday.

The article also spoke about how this new generations learns. Obviously with the vast amount of technology present and at their fingertips, this generation learns differently that generations before them. Teacher should act as resources for this generation. New media and technology available to this generation enhancing their learning ability because they are interactive and connected to other learners

This article really speaks about who different this generation is from prior generations. The video generation is over, short and sweet. Technology and new media have quickly outgrown and replaced TV education, like Sesame Street. The Net Generation embraces all of the technology at their fingertips and literally moves throughout the web to different parts of the world and cyber world. They are so comfortable with the technology that they are quickly outgrowing the methods of their educators

As an educator I found this article very accurate. My students know way more than I do about technology and are far more comfortable using it than I am! I remember my mom talking about how "revolutionary" Sesame Street was for my generation. Kids learning from TV was a ridiculous idea. Yet it worked. Sesame Street is still on TV today and it truly is an educational device. The only problem is that now, generations have "outgrown" the television. The Net generation is truly in charge of their own learning. They navigate web pages with ease, blogs are second nature, and they can figure out any new tech toy. Teachers need to constantly challenge themselves to "speak the language" of the net generation. Allow them the responsibility to navigate their learning while teachers facilitate and act as an instructional tool. The world is changing, teachers much do what they can to adapt and help reach the needs of the net generation.