The Technos

This morning I was having a conversation with two of my younger kids.  They had seen an ad on T.V. aimed at the Baby Boomer generation and wanted to know if I was a Baby Boomer (I take the 5th here). I went on to say that my little brother was generation X (which I never hear much news on). The past election year we sure heard a lot about the Millennial generation so they were familiar with that generation.  After a bit of discussion,  one of my kids said that they should be the Technos generation.  My older two children are in the Millennial generation, but I have had a lot of discussions with my three younger kids along with teaching computers in the schools since the early 90's.  Going back to just the Millennial generation, they knew all the proxy servers, how to build a computer, the need to constantly upgrade their memory and modem speeds, etc.  They basically explored, problem solved, got in trouble and created all types of technology.

By contract, The Technos generation, 1996-2006, have always been raised not only around technology, but pretty much one-on-one devices.  IPad, Smartphones, and Chromebooks. I know teachers that won't assign homework because not every student has a computer.  My students who didn't have computers actually got more homework on "the computer" done than students that had Internet and desktops at home, they where creative enough to use their parents or their own Smartphone.  Even places where people assume a student won't have access to online information, they usually do. School districts are evening removing desktops and Smartboards, considering them old school.  Those Chromebooks are so small teachers can't even monitor what students are doing on them.  Students rarely even having to share a device, never needing to learn how to use a dictionary (who needs ABC order), learn the Dewey decimal system, hitch a ride to the library, or look things up in an encyclopedia. About 10 years ago I was quoted in a book when I said that Google is the new dictionary.  Face it, who hasn't just typed a word in Google to make sure that it is spelled correctly or what the word means.  Google even will give you a sentence with the word in it.

In the previous generations, students loved computer time and getting on a computer.  Now students almost groan when they have to use computers.  To be honest, students feel their life is saturated by computers.  Many schools use personal devices so that students have access to their textbooks.  Yes, this is a nice convenience and easy to carry just a Chromebook home rather than a 50lbs backpack, but sometimes it is easier on the eyes to read a regular book.  It is also easier to flip back and fourth through the pages to compare and reread.  Computers represent school work to students and most students have a Smartphone in their pocket with plenty of apps at their finger tips.  They don't need to learn or know how computer's work, their phone does almost everything for them.  They don't need to learn how to read a map, spell a word, calculate math, or many other things.  Their phone not only can do most of their school work, but can play videos, movies, email, chat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, play not only the radio and songs, but complete albums.  There are probably tons of other things that their phone can do that I don't even know. In fact, someday a Smartphone will probably be a school requirement and schools won't supply technology at all.  Similar to having to bring your own paper and pencil in the old days.  From a phone you can Bluetooth your document to a printer, or email it to your instructor. 

The Technos are having to recreate old school ways with new terminology.  Coding and Maker-Space is just two new words for thinking while using a electronical device and doing hands on with creative materials. I have several future blogs covering these topics.

The fact that The Technos have grown up with the knowledge that privacy is a luxury to their generation. In years past writing a paper in English class you wondered if your teacher ever even got to the huge pile of papers and read yours (and you could write so sloppy that the teacher could not even read what you wrote, definitely not illegible happen when you're required to type things).  Now with it submitted online, there is not a guarantee what you wrote is even private and will only be read or shared by your teacher.  Upload or email incorrectly and who knows where it will end up. You only have to go to YouTube to see what people video tape and post online.  Anywhere and anytime Technos have a camera on them, this is normal for them.  I can't even imagine growing up where anyone anywhere can video without your knowledge.  Even if a Technos does not have a Facebook account their friends can tag them in Facebook. Google anyone's name and you not only know where they live, but can pull up a map how to get there and also know who else lives in the house with them.  A local newspaper article now can be accessed anywhere in the world. This generation has been submerged in too much technology and too little privacy. They will hopefully be creating more ways to live their lives' without having to be connected 24/7 to technology.  I also hope they find more ways to have face-to-face communication.

I guess for the parent The Technos definitely know how to keep in contact with their parents.  When they get where they are going, when they leave, what their test score was today, which item should they buy at the store, text photos of their art project or woodshop project. Technos  have 24/7 access to their parents.  Maybe a helicopter parent invented the Smartphone. :)