My grandmother’s mornings at her house are an excellent example of how different generations can work together to accomplish the same task. My grandmother takes the mail and starts making a grocery and reminder list. My grandfather is looking at the newspaper and asks me to print something from him that I can fax to the insurance agency later. While all this is going on, I am still completing the same tasks using one device at a time. It seems that technology is limited even when they do venture into it.

Different generations make use of the technology that is available. It seems that the earlier a person uses technology, the deeper they will go into its world. There will be some who use it more than others. However, there is an age limit that allows one to remain true to what they know. There are many preferences and opinions that individuals have about technology. This includes whether it has been helpful or detrimental to reading or writing. Many Americans are now more comfortable reading and writing because technology is influencing their habits. There is an apparent difference between younger and older generations when it comes down to their preferences for whether or to use technology to read and write. This essay will be about older generations. I will use the term ‘The Silent Generation’ as an example. I will divide younger generations into ‘Millennials’ and ‘Generation Z, born between 1980 and 2012. According to Pew Research Center, nearly 95% of Americans have a smartphone. While technology is a huge part of American life, not everyone uses it the same. Each generation is unique in their use of technology. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, each generation’s use of different platforms for making their lives easier …”. This article also focuses on the generational differences and provides a general overview of the technology they use to communicate. Generation X, which is made up of individuals born between 1965 and 1979, primarily uses email and telephone for communication. The ‘Millennials, who were born between 1980 and 1996, rely on text messaging and social media to communicate. Generation Z, which was born after 1996, uses primarily handheld devices for communication. What they like to read about current events and news is what really differentiates generations in the technology world. My grandparents are older and still read the newspaper every morning. Pew Research Center surveyed different age groups and asked them their preferences on reading the news online or in a newspaper. This study confirms the theory that younger generations tend to be more open to using technology such as news apps for mobile devices or websites for computers. Ten percent prefer reading newspapers to receive the news, while eighty one percent prefer to access the news online. Thirteen percent prefer the newspaper, while seventy-two per cent prefer to read online news. Forty percent preferred the newspaper to the online news, while 41 percent preferred it online for those aged 50-64 years. 60-3% of sixty-five-year-olds preferred to read newspapers, and 20% preferred to access the news online. The younger generation prefers to read the news online while the older generation prefers the old ways of reading the newspaper.

It is also important to consider whether technology has had a positive impact on the development of students and their learning environment. A study of over 3,000 college students in America found that eighty-one percent said technology helped them improve their grades and efficiency. Technology is a powerful tool that can help students, provided it is used properly. Students enrolled on college courses favor interactive learning and online tools for studying. Technology has changed how students learn and develop at colleges, as well as grade schools. “The technology’s impact on schools today has been significant. Technology has revolutionized the teaching and learning process for students and teachers. Technology has many benefits. Students find it easier to retain information, more fun, and allows them to learn at their own pace.

However, technology is not without its limitations. Technology can cause distractions that hinder students’ ability and knowledge retention. Teachers and professors may find it difficult to allow technology into the classroom due to students’ reckless usage. Computers cannot replace or substitute for the teaching role in the classroom. Computers cannot replace hands-on experience with science equipment, art supplies, and musical instruments. The learning environment of older generations was quite different than that of the twenty first century. You can debate the negative and positive effects of technology on modern-day students.

Technology is a complex subject. There are differences in the way that people read and write. According to research, older generations are more likely to retain the reading and writing habits they have grown to love and to not be as proficient in using modern technologies. In contrast, younger generations who were raised in an age of technology are more likely to embrace the benefits and keep up with technological developments. My grandparents preferred traditional reading and writing methods, but I’m happy to use my smartphone and computer.

isabelhart

Amy Fox is a 28 year old school blogger, who has been writing for over 10 years. She has been a student at the University of Utah for three years and is now a graduate student.