I am currently reading Educating the Net Generation by Bob Pletka. The main theme of this book is that American students, high school students in particular, are disengaged from learning in high numbers. Furthermore, the author builds a strong case that something needs to be done – and done now.
Dr. Pletka identified three themes regarding how students decide whether to engage with or disengage from classroom activity. He notes that students make their decision based on three dimensions:
- Benefit (the student tries to determine whether the activity is useful – now or in the future)
- Interest (the student tries to decide whether the activity is something he/she likes)
- Importance (the student tries to determine whether the activity will help him/her to advance toward a goal)
As I read the book, I find myself wondering two things. First, how new is this phenomenon? The author, I believe, draws the conclusion that the current generation, the Net Generation, is the first to be disengaged in such large numbers. I agree with this assertion, but I also wonder to what extent previous generations were disengaged. I think we would learn that student engagement has been decreasing over the past two to three generations (at least). If so, then I believe that other societal factors are also at work. These factors may also be worthy of consideration.
I also wonder what other societal factors are influencing student disengagement. The author poses that the democratization of information and the influence of technology are the primary drivers of disengagement for the Net Generation. I wonder if another factor may be at work. For example, what if adults are spending less time impressing on young people the importance of education? Students may be trying to answer the question, “Why is school important?” for themselves. They might arrive at a different conclusion if they had the benefit of an adult perspective – the perspective of someone that knows firsthand the importance of an education to his/her career development.
I am looking forward to completing this book. I believe my work will benefit from a better understanding of how students perceive their educational experience. Despite my musings, Dr. Pletka’s work illuminates this question rather well.
Reference
Pletka, B (2007). Educating the Net Generation: How to Engage Students in the 21st Century.