Activity 2 - Two Generation of Teachers

Silvia Ferrero's article was very enlightening.  The research findings on the difference in attitudes of older verses younger teachers was somewhat unexpected. 

My interpretation of the findings suggest that the 'generation divide' has far less impact on the the willingness and capability of teachers to utilize ICT in the classroom than previously expected.  Instead, the experience of the teacher is a far greater influential factor.  Some older teachers have backgrounds (whether through professional training or personal interest) in ICT.  Therefore, some may not be as 'afraid' of technology as many persons presume; they turn out to be far more competent and comfortable integrating it in their classrooms.  In contrast, there are persons in the net-generation who are not as comfortable with the technology they have been exposed to and are therefore less likely to gravitate towards using it in the classroom.  Those without a keen grounding in ICT may be fearful of using it in education because of the risk of 'exposing' their shortcomings - shortcomings that they apparently should NOT have since they are part of the net-generation, or so it is perceived.

The second conclusion I've drawn from the article, is that the overall willingness of persons to utilize ICT is not defined by the persons age.  Instead, it hinges on their attitude towards ICT and its possible advantages in the process of learning.  Therefore, an older teacher's attitude might be one in which they believe that both their students and they themselves could benefit from ICT, and they then decide to seek out opportunities for learning (if they had limited knowledge beforehand).  They may also be more patient and systematic in both their learning and in implementation.  A younger teacher on the other hand can be well versed in the technologies but may not see ICT in education as important or even interesting for the students.  Some may simply prefer older tried and tested methods.  Therefore, they avoid using it altogether.  While I specified older and younger teachers in these two examples respectively, it was merely to illustrate the average expected knowledge base of the two groups sitting on each side of the generation divide.  However, the same holds through in both examples regardless of age.

And that, my friends, is the way some things in this article look to me!

Cheers.