"07734. 2bh I 2tali 4got about the paper 2day. IDC. But btw 10q 4 de 1daful 4war. V r bff."
Does the above message baffle you? If the answer is "Yes," you can count yourself among the Digital Immigrants who are struggling to understand the Digital Natives in their classrooms. Schools are facing the big challenge of balancing the needs of different generations of both students and educators. Among the different generations, there are huge differences in the language used, in usage and access to technology, and even in attitude toward life.
The current schools, curricula, and teaching methodologies serve the needs of the previous generation, but they fail to deliver the desired results for the present and future generations. Many students today feel bored in traditional classrooms because they don't identify with what's being taught; conversely, many teachers feel tired, unmotivated, and frustrated because despite their best efforts, they cannot reach their students. The burning issue facing the world of academics today is how to bridge the gap between these generations.
In my 12 years of teaching experience, I have realized that the basic needs of students are still the same. The fundamental principles of knowledge also remain the same, but we need to change the tools we use and the way we deliver this knowledge.
Students expect to feel connected and engaged within a community. They want to interact and collaborate in a personalized learning environment, constructed and managed by them. Such a teaching and learning approach calls for a change in the set of skills a teacher must possess in order to become an effective 21st century educator.
In the present school systems, there is a gap not only between students and teachers, but also between senior teachers and the young new teachers joining the education system. More veteran teachers may have mastered content, while younger teachers may be more familiar with the tools students enjoy using.
I would like to suggest the concept of "mutual mentoring," wherein mentoring takes place both ways between the different generations of educators. Veteran teachers can pass on their experience with the content knowledge to the beginning teachers, who, in turn, can mentor their colleagues regarding new technology tools and newer ways of teaching and learning. Also, I am a big proponent of asking for student input to help make lesson delivery more interesting and understandable.
I believe many classroom management problems can be solved if we try to understand the needs of the students and explore the tools which they are comfortable using. For example, I have created an academic group on Facebook for my students, which helps us easily connect. I also think my presence on Facebook deters them from misusing this tool.
If students are not learning the way we teach, then I think it's time we start teaching them the way they learn.
By the way, the message above means:
07734[Hello]. 2bh[to be honest] I 2tali[totally] 4got[forgot] about the paper 2day[today]. IDC[I don't care] But btw[by the way] 10q[thank you] 4[for] de[the] 1daful[wonderful] 4war[forward]. V[we] r[are] bff [best friends forever].