How will the digital revolution change the way teachers teach?

Alissa Spangenthal

Often we hear about how the revolution in digital media is affecting our youth; the way they learn, they way the speak, and the way they spend their time – whether it be in leisure or academic settings. But what is not so frequently discussed is how this shift in social standards and realities is affecting the adults of this country. In my opinion, it is important to reflect specifically on those who teach.

The Faculty’s response to the digital revolution

One can see clearly that the phenomenon that is Facebook has taken the majority of American students by storm, but it is curious to see how social networking, smartphones, and other digitally charged entities have spurred changes, in many cases daunting, amongst the teachers and administrators in the academic world.

As a student at your average institute of higher education, I can speak from experience that there are many different kinds of professors and when it comes to digital media, the potential it has is lost on some and used effectively by others. The first example that comes to mind of a professor affected (or in this case, not) by the digital media craze is found in the 50-60 year old anthropology professor who tells her class only to email her in “emergency situations”. I have found that most professors within that age category are like this. They come from a different generation where computers and cell phones didn’t exist, so to them it is not necessary to integrate such technologies into their teaching. Or in some cases, take my mother, the middle school French teacher for example. They’re interested, but just don’t have the time or energy to learn about this fast paced new lifestyle of younger generations.

Not everyone’s “up in arms”

We’ve had many a conversation about the conflict of integrating the interests of her students into her teaching and simply doing what she has always been good at. In her case, she chooses to stick to her normal routine because frankly, it works despite its lack of digital components.

So those are the type of teachers I, along with all of my peers grew up with. The chalkboard and pencil types who’s most significant digital experience involved sending us to the computer lab to learn how to type properly. And now those students, who can type thousands of words a minute without even batting an eye, are becoming teachers, and thus the quest for knowledge is morphing into a new form. Many of the younger generation of teachers and professors use Facebook actively, and are easily accessible through email, which gets sent straight to their Blackberries, which flashes a little light every time a new message is received.

Things are changing

As this type of teacher takes over, the world of education will grow smaller and more intimate. Students will know their professors the way they know their peers, leading to a more positive and realistic relationship between them. And with this new teacher-student relationship comes more incentive to learn. If a student knows that their teacher also loves Lil’ Wayne or the Red Sox, they will be more inclined to respect them as an individual spirit, and visa versa. I have always found that the better I know a teacher, the more motivated I am in the classroom.

Boston Red Sox Facebook Page

So although this shift towards the digital world can be quite scary, it has the potential to make positive changes within institutes of education. Rather than shy away from or scowl upon it, teachers should embrace the shift with the idea that it will bring them closer to their students. It will make them more approachable and thus will encourage better results across the board.