THE MILLENIALS
I found this article very interesting and thought-provoking. I do accept the fact that my generation, known as the "millenials," is technologically savvy and that this distinguishes us from previous generations. However, I would also argue that each generation has had some set of characteristics that set us apart from previous generations. Because of these differences, changes have had to be made to better reach the current generation, and the current situation is no different.
Continuing, I would have to agree with some of the characteristics that the article states are common for millenials. We do multi-task, enjoy collaboration, and tend to become impatient when things take longer than we desire them to. However, what some people may interpret as attention span problems may not be such. The fact that we jump around from activity to activity and that we often multi-task should not lead to the conclusion that have attention problems. Rather, I would argue that we simply have many commitments and activities in which we are involved. In order to get everything completed it is often necessary to multi-task. Teachers should not view this as rude or irresponsible, but rather as a time-management tool.
Furthermore, we have different learning styles than previous generations. Many learn more efficiently by using technology, experiencing multi-media presentations, and performing hands-on assignments and tasks. Teachers should not be expected to completely change the way in which they run their class, but at the same time students should not be asked to completely change the way in which they learn. There has to be compromise and understanding. Rather than focusing on the differences between the generations, we should be seeking to create a bridge that will create a more comfortable, worth-while, and mutually beneficial educational experience for both teachers and students.