Baby Boomers and Generation X
Now that we have a few days off (snow and holiday), it’s time to do a little blogging. I’ve also done a little television watching. (I hardly ever watch television. In fact, the only reason why I think I have TV is because it also provides me with the fastest internet service around here.) Anyway, yesterday I was passing through the channels and came upon one of those financial channels. (I didn’t even make a note of which one.) There was a very interesting story about the retirement of baby boomers and how generation Xers are going to be replacing them. In addition to making light of the fact that there are more boomers retiring than there are Xers available to take their jobs, the story focused on how Xers have a different mind-set, particularly their view toward and uses of technology, from boomers.
This got me thinking: A large part of education is stuck in a boomer world—because our present school leaders are boomers. How will this change when they retire and are replaced by Xers (or even Yers)? I know I am painting with a broad brush here, but seriously, if Xers and Yers have a different paradigm about the world (and education, technology, etc.), won’t they bring that to leadership roles in the near future? For a moment, I was getting excited by the thought of some more progressive thinking entering school leadership. Is my logic correct? 
Ah, I read your interesting, thought-provoking blog, and can see how the wheels were turning in your head and how you could apply this to my blog.
You posed this question: “As more and more people from your generation leave school and become leaders and people of influence, how will schools change?” Well, I’m sure (since most of us are so passionate about brainstorming and presenting ideas on how to improve our own school), those who become leaders influential to schools will draw on their past times and experiences in school (while also considering the present conditions). They would put themselves in their old school shoes and use that perspective to improve schools. As of now, the majority of us don’t agree with the feeling of “Well, I had to do it this way when I was YOUR age, so you’re gonna do the same [and most likely suffer].” I’m positive those leaders would tap into their teenage minds and remind themselves of what they would have wanted to improve when they were in school. For example: my English class today discussed how convenient, quick, and helpful the siting site “easybib.com” is, and how “unfair” it is to site sources the “old way” when we have something so available.
I know those future influential people (of today’s generation) would make helpful and convenient technology such as that available for future students. Whether the new technology would be something as simple as [a sufficient amount of] computer microphones, something less common like a SMART Board, or a cutting edge futuristic tool, those leaders would make them available for the students. Not only would those people be...almost honoring their teenage selves, but they’d also be adapting to the modern times because they grew up around and contributed to the realization that technology can enhance and assist a [teaching and] learning experience. (And technology is already changing so fast, can you imagine what it’d be like 10 years from now?)Thank you for posing that question for me, allowing me to be a part of this wonder. Thank you for the comment on my blog, also, I appreciate it.
Posted by on 03/20 at 08:21 PMAs an Instructional Designer in the corporate world, I theoretically agree wholeheartedly, but practically can’t get it in motion. Some challenges that make the waters muddy:
1. Education is always a last priority in a for-profit environment. It’s rare you can turn a handsome profit so the value is mostly rhetorical. This isnt so diffferent from schools.
2. Since there is no profit involved, there is no time for learners to attend or take any webcast, self-directed, or elearning module. Everyone wants it but isn’t rewarded for it. This is not the same for schools.
3. People love classrooms. Not that it’s so fun, but it’s a chance to get away form their desk. It’s also typically (but not necessarily) a passive event. Beyond a few probing questions, most educators sadly blather on for hours while attendees occasionally hit the e-voting button on their workstations. “Time off” plus a lack-of-calories-spent equals a “good time”.On a side note, the relative lack of X-ers replacing Boomers is creating a destabilizing period of confusion in corporate America. I don’t think it’ll be that easy to make these changes for the next 20 years. I admit this is a rather broad generalization, but hear me out… every other recent generation has had a hand-off to the next generation who then gets to modify how things are done. With the lack of Xers to take the reins, I see a dilution of X-er influence due to a huge Y crowd competing for power and attention. There isn’t a simple hand off this time, it’s become an unfortunate competition for who’s next in line. There are definitely differences in X and Y (that Boomers can’t/don’t recognize usually) that result in disagreements at this moment. We both agree technology is key, but how to implement (and should we do it) are issues X and Y so far have not agreed upon.
Well-- that was quite longer than I expected. Cheers!
Posted by on 04/10 at 10:15 PM
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