Thinking about technology and the generation gap

When Mark and I were preparing for our multimedia presentation we decided that we wanted to hear what students thought about the education if we took school out of the equation.  Initially we were going to send the prompt out to students are working or have worked for us, mainly because they are readily accessible with contact information and such.  Then as we were talking we decided that posting to facebook might prove to be interesting, and so I posted.

As a first-generation college graduate who comes from a small farming town in western Colorado, I have many friends that have a very different perspective than my own (as I'm sure most of us do).  So when I created the note on my page I decided to not only post to my wall but also to tag some individuals who I thought would have a very different take on the abandonment of brick and mortar schools.

One such remark came from my mom who posted this statement:
"If technology continues at the rate it is currently moving, the teacher will be a robot, the students will have computers implanted in their hands and no one will communicate in person any longer!!! Smell like rotten eggs to me!! God help us all! I know that's not what you were looking for, sorry Sissy."


My first reaction was "Wow, thanks a lot Mom for the help and the support".  But as time has past, and my ego is a little less bruised, I think I can understand a little more where she is coming from.  My parents have had a computer since 1997 but are still learning how to log on to the internet, check email, and make on-line purchases.  Forget about downloading iTunes, linking up for a video chatting session (which would be amazing since they live so far away), or participating in interactive gaming.  


I do my best to help them, as I have been deemed the family computer expert because I know how to add attachments to emails, but since they are not using the technology everyday they forget everything they've learned as soon as I board the plane back to CA.  I'm not sure where I'm going with this line of thinking since I know plenty of 50 somethings (even 60, 70, and 80 somethings) that have jumped on the technology bandwagon with gusto.  I guess mostly I feel a little sad that my parents are being left out of a huge piece of what is going on in the world, and while they may be just fine with it, I can't help but feel like their missing out on something amazing. 

October camping trip in CO with Dad, Mom, Sister & Brother (not pictured)