Jennifer Van Hove- Nagtegaal, Open studies student at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I find myself at an interesting stage in life; I have developed a wisdom that comes with passing nearly three decades on this earth, but at the same time I realize that I have so much yet to learn. This is the beauty in life: the balance of continually learning, and at the same time sharing what we have learned. My profession as a teacher has provided me with a platform from which I can share my knowledge with my students, but at the same time as a university student I enjoy the process of learning from others that are more knowledgeable than myself.
The hope that I have for humanity is that we value and embody lifelong learning so that the next generation will also value and embody this same devotion to education. What results will be a cycle of demonstrating and sharing the same educational values in future generations. Technology is a key element in allowing this cycle to function.
In North America, we live in a society embedded with technology. This tool provides accessibility to an ocean of information that is current and relevant; in classrooms it allows for interactive learning and dynamic lessons; and through online learning it provides access to educational institutions for those who once were restricted by location and transportation. However, at the same time it is also technology that adds to our impatience and our desire for obtaining everything immediately. These values are polar opposites: Instant. Permanent.
We belong to a growing culture of impatience, and thanks to technology, everything is accessible instantly. In this way the biggest obstacle for youth is that which they believe to be their biggest asset: technology breeds impatience. There is a new verb that pertains to the learning process that did not even exist twenty years ago. The two words that quickly roll off any tongue are ‘google it’. The ability to access information with one click has created a culture of immediate and superficial knowledge, in place of a deep understanding that comes with taking time to fully learn and understand a concept. We must recognize that technology promotes complacency. This impatience has been coined ‘instant gratification’.
Although it is a big dilemma, there is hope for humanity. The other side of this challenge is the desire for personal growth and lifelong learning. Provided that technology is an integral part of our society, it is pertinent that youth learn to exercise discernment. They must treat technology like an educational tool, instead of the only tool. Teachers, parents, and mentors need to communicate to today’s youth this desire for learning and the benefits that such a skill will bring to their futures. Further, it is imperative that youth do not fall victim to the idea of instant gratification, but rather have the patience and motivation to become integral citizens to their society.
