Re: Learning Styles 2.0

On a semantic, if not basic, level I take issue with the article “Learning Styles 2.0: Digital, Social and Always On.” The article opens, “Raised in the “always on” world of interactive media, the Internet, and social media technologies, Generation Y has different expectations and learning styles than previous generations” and immediately introduces the idea with which I have a problem: a new generation having new learning styles. Different expectations? Granted. These young people live with these new technologies as previous generations lived with books. Just as those who came before us expected to be taught using books, the then current media, so too will and should Generation Y expect to be taught using its current media: the internet and all its technological accoutrements. What I take issue with is the idea that this new generation of young people present with different “learning styles.” I think that Generation Y has different learning opportunities, opportunities that allow for heretofore unthinkable levels of individualization, but I do not think that they learn differently from past generations. I think that we will find the same students, with the same differences in abilities, interests and passions, with the same diversity of intelligences (a la Gardner) and that the main difference will be in how we can meet their varied needs. Certain students will thrive when given opportunities to learn from and express themselves through technology. I think that we also need to accept that not all students will so thrive. Some students may require the pen in hand-pad before them method of note taking, idea development and product creation and these students should not be thought of as deficient for their “learning style.” All options for presentation, participation and expression should remain open to students – including those that do not need to be plugged into a socket. Technology has the potential to be a great unifier as long as we don’t prioritize innovation over need.