A Geriatric Millennial’s Take on Participation

I feel like I should start by apologizing to anyone who found the title a bit jarring (unfortunate supporting evidence). It is hard for me to accept as well, but I think it’s important for the context of this post. As a geriatric millennial, I have experienced firsthand how the world has changed with the introduction of the internet, specifically in the way in which people interact with each other and cultivate relationships.

In the lecture, it was discussed how teenagers are not experiencing life the same way that they have in past generations. Instead of dating, getting their licence, and a part-time job, teenagers are spending more time at home on their devices. The ability of technology to isolate individuals is one of the primary downfalls associated with young people’s use of electronic devices and the Internet. Since nearly half of teens say they are using the internet almost constantly, it could be assumed that this is indeed the case.

 

But what if we look at it from another perspective?

Wesch notes in the video that although people are physically more isolated than they have been in the past, they still crave community and connection. The rise of social media, specifically platforms like YouTube and TikTok, has created an environment where people can satisfy these needs. I found it particularly interesting when the video discussed how YouTube may actually provide a means to a deeper connection than is possible in reality because individuals can observe, and truly see, a person for who they are without the social anxiety or awkwardness of staring at a person. What if although we are physically isolated from one another, we can create deeper connections and more meaningful communities because of how these interactions take place on the internet?

 

In the Classroom

Instead of viewing connectivity as a problem that, as a teacher, I must constantly battle against, I want to welcome it into my classroom. I think the opportunities for learning that technology provides are endless. Students can collaborate on any number of activities, with other students all over the world. Do toilets flush backward in the southern hemisphere? Let’s find out! Do people in Canada live in igloos? Let’s ask them! Do people from different countries and cultures like the same music and TV shows? Let’s survey our community and compare results with other classrooms! Technology can help to create a global community of learners who are experiencing learning in a first-hand way that was never thought to be possible before.

Finding our Humanity

In a world that often focuses on division and differences, I think students who are able to interact with other students in a global community are given the unique opportunity to experience the world in a new way. They are able to see that although people are different in many ways, they are also the same. Being able to make connections with real people can humanize aspects of education and topics that are covered within the curriculum. I think educators who utilize technology in innovative ways, create an environment where students develop an awareness of the astounding possibilities it creates for curricular learning and an understanding of the universal human experience.