Since using computers is "normal" activity for today's youth, they are
accustomed to using computers. Therefore, when I engage my classes in
computer-aided discussion, younger students accomplish it much more quickly.
Oh, that's
not to say older students can't do it or don't like it; I've just learned to
keep an eye on them for the first few weeks of class. Chatting on computers
is new to older students -- older meaning anyone out of their teenaged
years. Last year, a middle-aged lady dropped by composition class because she
wanted to take a computer science class before she tried online discussion. I
assured her I could teach all she needed to know about computers to succeed in
my class in 15 minutes, but she didn't believe me.
Once they get the hang of it, the older students are just as active in the
online discussion as the recent high school graduates. In fact, some of my
older students have been better at online discussion because they're returning
to school in mid-career and have seen how much computer-aided communication
is needed to today's professional world.
Since computer gaming has acclimatized students to using computers, it has
-- ironically -- prepared them for studying in today's academic culture, to
navigate the digital divide.
Jim Flick
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