The gap between generations
There seems to be a great divide in our technology friendly world. What, you might ask am I talking about now? I’m talking about that chasm that is opening up between my generation (the 30 and over crowd) and Generation “X” and Generation “Now”.
That penchant for our younger folks to just Google anything they want to learn about (and us too). Not too many folks read to obtain information anymore. Mention a word, a phrase or a name it’s off to Googleland to find out any and all information we may need.
While I’m not saying the Internet is bad, not at all! I for one applaud the use of the Internet and what it has done for humankind all over! What worries me is with the “X” and the “Now” generations, when it comes to learning and connecting with the history of any given subject and acquiring and being able to analyze information about a particular subject, they don’t know how to do that.
How do they develop the necessary skills that will teach them how to do research and explore the different methods and ideas on what to do to get the information they need other than going on the Internet? Does anyone remember Microfiche? Or those big ole books called Encyclopedias? Or Microfilm? Or Catalogs?
The other day I gave my son a lesson on how to search for something at the Library. He was shocked to learn that going on the Internet is not the only way to obtain information. The Library has a wide assortment of ways for you to obtain information. They do have computers and Internet access because they have to get with the times, i.e., with what everyone else is doing.
However, before computers there were a Reference section, Catalogs, and Microfiches or Microfilms searches available (although there are no more at least at our branch library). They do have another kind of search too. You can sit at this antiquated computer-looking type machine that has a telephone attached and speak to someone on the other end. You see the person you’re speaking to and they see you!
What I’m trying to get at though is that many students these days are finding the quickest route in doing their assignments. They cut and paste information from the Internet. Never mind that sometimes this may lead to plagiarism but how do they learn about a particular subject if this is all they do? Can they give thorough and accurate information on what they have done? Or correctly list the source of their information without siting a webpage?
What about that thirst for learning and the knowledge gain because of the paper you have to write on any subject that you might be assigned. You become so enrapt by the information that you’ve read about. You analyze and ask questions of your parents, teacher or peers. You learn to develop strategies in putting together a presentation for your teacher and are able to tell the history of what you’re seeking. You learn how to put sentences together to make an essay, to write knowledgeably about a topic. You learn new words, how to spell them and learn what they mean. You learn a lot by using other methods to do your research and not only by using the Internet.
While using the Internet is very helpful and might be a quicker way find what you seek (and there’s nothing wrong with that). However, let’s not forget that there are books out there to be read, information to be analyzed and skills to be learned if we take the time to do it.