In class, we had quite a lively debate about the tension between expecting students to conform to our current standards of face-to-face communication, or being flexible enough ourselves to accept new communications paradigms. This week, I would like for you to choose one side and defend it. Should we:
1) expect digital natives to learn "proper communication skills" (e.g., not checking phone during meetings), or...
2) be more flexible with our own expectations?
1) expect digital natives to learn "proper communication skills" (e.g., not checking phone during meetings), or...
2) be more flexible with our own expectations?
I understand the need for changing with the times, but we should not be doing this in a way that voids basic manners. I think that certain rules of etiquette do become outdated and no longer need to be in place. The ability to conduct basic one on one communication needs to be maintained. Students do need to understand how to communicate on the internet and deceives. But face to face, and group interaction is just as important of a skill. Jenn Fusion, Demand Media, "Face to Face communication in business" talks about the benefits of personal communication. It sites a 2009 forbes insight survey of more than 750 business professionals. They felt face to face meetings: build stronger, more meaningful business relationship-while allowing better social opportunities to bond with clients and coworkers."
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Jackie! I think that face to face communication is extremely important. One problem that I see with technology is that it is sometimes misunderstood. It is hard to evoke emotions via text messages or emails and sometimes we can convey the wrong message. I believe that there is most definitely a need to speak face to face, especially in regards to serious matters. I have seen this most when receiving emails from the parents of my students. Sometimes they come across as rude or condescending, but a simple phone call or meeting clears it up quite fast. In this type of situation, sometimes technology can actually make tension escalate.
Delete-Laura B.
This is so true Laura. I have experienced the same thing. I prefer using the phone instead of email and I never text my students parents. Emails are so impersonal and when I am trying to build a positive relationship with parents, a phone call conveys much more warmth and hospitality as opposed to an email.
DeleteI agree that being face to face when talking is best. If I am contacting parents with a general message email is very convenient. But I think that being able to read body language is so important when dealing with emotional matters.
DeleteThis is another tough question! I'm sorry I missed the conversation last week, as my colleagues and I often discuss this topic at length. I have a strong believe in having good social skills and using manners; however, I think we need to be more flexible with our expectations. As we have discussed with other topics, I think it is important to remember that these kids are from a different time. They have grown up with technology and it is what they know. That being said, their forms of communication are also what they know. They're not going to call and chat on the phone because they can email or send a text message. If they have a question in class, they may wait to send an email to ask that question, rather than ask in person. I see nothing wrong with this- it's still a means for them to communicate. It just has a different appearance.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to etiquette, I believe that is not the technology at fault, but rather the character of the person that needs to be addressed. This topic applies to manners, in general. And I think we'd all be lying if we said we'd never been rude, even without the use of technology at our fingertips. It's the same thing as talking in a meeting while someone else is talking, and we all know that happens. If I look around the room at a faculty meeting, most of the teachers are chatting about their own topics rather than listening to the administrators speak, and hardly any of them are doing so via a device. Actually, if they were to send text messages to each other or check their phones, they'd be quieter. That type of etiquette should be taught at home, at an early age. Many of my students are still extremely polite and have very good communication skills, so it can't be JUST the technology that's the problem. If we're going to discuss etiquette, I think other factors need to be looked at, such as more households having two working parents, or the fact that this generation is bit more entitled than past generations.
Sorry! This is Laura B.
DeleteI agree with both Jackie and Piano 12385 “whoever that may be”, that society is changing and social norms are evolving to meet the needs of society today. 70 years ago, a man never walked down the street without a hat and when he entered a building he immediately took that hat off. That social norm has evolved and so what we as adults have come to expect will also change as time moves forward. The question is to what extent and how fast will the changes take place. I recently went to a conference run by the state dept. of education. The conference was on new regulations for assistive technology. The room I was in was filled with roughly 60 adults who were not digital natives. As I looked around the room, 80% of the people had an electronic device such as a smart phone, tablet, or laptop. To the casual observer, it appeared that everyone was tuned into their device and no one was paying attention to the speaker. Is this the new norm? The speaker accepted this and no one told the audience to put down their devices and pay attention. It appeared to me that what is socially acceptable has already changed. Does this make it right? Interpersonal interactions have also changed. I observed 3 people setting up a blanket one time in the park. As the three were setting up together, they were all talking on phones to someone else. That behavior baffled me. Mark Glaser commented on similar behavior in a 2007 article when he said, “We all need to find out what else is going on at other locations, to the detriment of the current situation happening right there in front of us.” http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2007/10/how-cell-phones-are-killing-face-to-face-interactions295/ I think that as social norms change it will be up to each individual to decide what they are comfortable with. If I am in the middle of a face to face conversation with someone and they incessantly use their phone, I would have no problem telling them to put it away or to give it a rest. I already have limits to other social behavior that I will not tolerate, why not include electronic devices. I do think that we need to be more flexible with our expectations as norms change but also be aware that it is just fine for a person to set their own limits whether they are a digital native or not.
ReplyDeleteI love these debates!
David Gionfriddo
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ReplyDeleteThis is a hard one to just pick one side, but if I had to, it would be that digital natives definitely need to learn proper communication skills--as does everyone else! I agree with the other posts that manners should be taught whether we’re talking about technology or anything else. I don’t like it when people text while I’m trying to have a conversation with them. I don’t like it when people use the phone when they’re in line at the cash register.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, if someone says “excuse me, I am listening to you, I just have to text this person back”, it’s more polite. If someone picks up their phone (instead of using their Blutooth, without a care that everyone can hear them shouting) and quietly says, “I’m at the store, I’ll call you right back”, that’s more polite. Is it just because I’m a product of the time I grew up in that I don’t mind hand-held devices as much as Bluetooths? Maybe the young generation now will have more tolerance for Bluetooths because they grew up with it being normal. Still, we always need to remember basic manners.
The digital world we live in has changed the ways people communicate. People rely heavily on Smartphones and similar devices to stay connected to the world. Millions of emails and texts are sent on a daily basis for personal reasons as well a job related issues. As a result of this 21st century communication, face to face communication has almost become a lost skill with today’s digital native. Jackie was correct when she said that face to face communication is just as important as being able to communicate digitally. This skill is needed in many areas including the professional setting and should be taught, practiced, and mastered. Face to face communication is more personal and builds trust and relationships. However, 21st century digital communication is not going away, so we do need to be more flexible in our expectations. Given this advancement in digital communication should come new etiquette rules for the digital natives. We have all seen or even may have been guilty ourselves of abusing our digital devices for means of communicating. We see it everyday on the roads and highways, in the classroom, even at the family dinner table. Texting while driving has become a huge topic in recent years because of the dangerous consequences that are associated with it. New laws are being passed in society and acceptable use policies are being implemented in schools and in the workplace to counteract digital communication abuse. The University of Michigan did a survey to over 750 adults and found that 6 in 10 cell phone users say that using a cell phone in public can be “a major irritation.” Not only is it irritating, it can be downright rude and inconsiderate in the workplace. (Is Cell Phone Abuse Creeping Into Your Workplace?- Copyright 2013 Client Retention, Jodi Riolo, Sandie Marinoble). Digital communication is important, but we as digital natives must use it responsibly. Just as we were taught proper table manners as children, we need to teach our digital natives proper etiquette with regards to digital communication.
ReplyDeleteKevin Pelczar
It is important, above all, to be a good human being. Therefore....
ReplyDeleteWe have to teach communication skills and to look people in the eye when you're talking to them. We need to teach that it can be conveyed as disrespectful if you're on the phone or texting while you're in other people's company. We need to teach the importance of undivided attention and respect. We need to teach that there is a time for electronics and there is a time to unplug and just be.
I do fear that the "ME" generation that we teach today will not develop skills that allow them to speak to someone face to face--especially if they are in trouble or if it is confrontational. It's not easy, and people hide behind email and texts too often instead of confronting the person and having a conversation.
Electronics have their place. They make life easier. But as a human race, I fear that we will go down a bad, bad path if we cannot face each other when it is necessary to do so. We lose our integrity and our character.
Proper communication skills can mean a number of different things. You can certainly communicate properly using technology. Both written (sending an email) and verbal (speaking to someone face to face) communication skills are important. Written communication is probably becoming more and more important as people email and text each other more instead of talking. I don't have a problem with people communicating more through the "written word" using technology than face to face. I think it helps people stay in touch better. The thing that we cannot just accept as "a sign of the times" is inappropriate and rude behavior. I don't think using a smart phone at the dinner table, in a restaurant, while checking out of a store, while in the company of a friend who is talking to you, etc.. is appropriate and we need to teach our young people this. There was a long-term sub at my husband's school who did not get hired the following year because he was seen texting at an important meeting. To this day he has no idea that is why he did not get hired. Our own superintendent in Wallingford was texting during a student presentation and the kids were really put off by it. At our convocation we had Carol Dweck presenting her mindset research and about 75% of the audience was on their phones texting! The teachers on either side of me could not keep their phones away for more than 5 minutes! They were worse than the kids. I do not accept this as just "the way it is now". I think this behavior is rude and always will be and we need to teach our young people proper etiquette with regard to technology use. And it needs to start with us setting an example!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to be late to the party, folks! I couldn't find you all! I agree with Aaron. People need to learn proper ettiquette in their use of technology. I have been reading snarky articles about how annoying it is for people to over text- such as the annoyance of receiving a thank you via text- really? Are we too inundated with information to remember the nicities in life? I am not that old but I expect that when I schedule my time to be with a friend or family member for an outing- that they will actually focus their attention to me and not their cell phone texts and emails. Young people are often seen with earphones on in the company of others, thus shutting out communication. To me, this is just as unhealthy as excessive video gaming. Children must be taught proper ettiquette just as they always have so that they learn to be tuned and respectful to those around them.
ReplyDelete