Week 4

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  Are you more comfortable composing documents online than longhand?
• I am definitely more comfortable typing out documents rather than writing them. In fact, when I took my comp test a few weeks back, I was a little shocked that we had to hand write all of our essay questions rather than type them. I think the last time that I wrote that much was when I was taking my TAAS test back in the day.
  
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  Have you turned your "remembering" (phone numbers, meetings, and so on) over to a technology device?
• Yes, I have. This can be a good and a bad thing. I currently went out of the country for my best friends wedding, and was using a calling card to call back home. Sadly, I couldn't remember my fiance's phone number. I have always hit "call" on my phone, rather than memorizing it. I won't make that mistake again. I keep a calendar in my cell phone in order to remember when I have certain events.
  
  Do you go to meetings with your laptop or PDA?
• I use my laptop in classes, but don't take it to school meetings with me. I do take my cell phone if I need to make any notes.
  
  Are you constantly connected? Is the Internet always on whether you are at home or work? Is your cell phone always with you?
• Yes, my cell phone has internet access and I do have access at home. I am always connected.
  
  How many different activities can you effectively engage in at one time?
• Several. I find myself changing tasks constantly on the Internet so that I don't get bored. I will do something with music or read blogs. I use facebook and twitter. I use the Internet for my classes. The internet is how I stay connected.
  
  Do you play video or computer games?
  
• I do not play video games. I did some as a kid, but not a lot. I do play computer games occasionally, but I have to be pretty bored to do that.
  

What generational category do you fall in or are you a mixture of a few?
I am the Net Generation. I was born in 83. I think everything in that category describes me. I'm very determined and want to help makes change where change needs to be made.

This article focused on implications primarily for higher education; however, the characteristics for the Net Gen remain true for students in K12. What and how do we need to change?
I think we really need to make sure that lessons and activities use the Internet. Students really enjoy doing things on the computer. I know at our school we have a portable computer lab (cart of laptops) and it is rarely used. Yes, it's a lot of hassle to pull all of the computers out and get them set up and turned on, but otherwise, we go to the lab once a week. Wouldn't it be better to have the cart to use for activities that take longer? I think students would be more engaged and more likely to complete their "work."