Technology affected Learners

The American Academy of Pediatrics conducts a survey of graduating residents each year. Results of a survey conducted between May and September of 2010 showed that a majority of them use IT tools for acquiring medical information, patient care and for personal communication. They use photos and video clips for both personal and professional purposes. Wisely enough, they use physicians-only social networking sites for professional purposes. (AAP News September 2011, page 17)

The current generation of learners is called the digital “natives”. They acquire information and use it effortlessly. Their learning style and skills are different. Teachers have to be aware of it.

In a lecture given by Prof.Krishnan at Hyderabad, India, young folks growing up with technology are called “Technology affected learners”. He makes SIX points about technology assisted learning. I list them here together with my comments (in italics) on what teachers can do to make the learners think.

1.Knowledge is free. (“Information is free”. You have to create knowledge out of it. We do not have to use the brain like a filing cabinet. Computers do a better job of “remembering” vast amount of data. Our brains are better used to think with the information)

2.Learners have less time to learn. (You have to make the time to learn)

3.We shape our own learning. ( Develop your own tools for thinking)

4.Peer network is the new expert. (Beware of the self-appointed “expert”)

5.Knowledge sources are always suspect (Check out the source for yourself. Make sure you know who is sponsoring it and why)

6.Newton’s Third law of Learning: For every point of view you find on the internet, there is an equal and opposite point of view. (You can find an article to support your point of view on any clinical problem! Beware and keep an open mind)

To this I will add what Margaret Mead said many years back. The days of vertical learning are over. These are the days of horizontal and parallel learning. You can learn from your students and the younger ones. You do not teach and/or learn. You share information and knowledge.

Wisdom – that is another story.