New generations of students, new school creators

Authors

Synopsis

Young people today grow up with technology, they use it every day and do not know a world without it. Mostof our students know how to use ICT tools for their purposes. Schools must help them to use these tools for learning as much as to satisfy their curiosity. Therefore, we are beginning to see the development of another category of tools - web-based educational applications. However, technology alone cannot solve every problem in education. Some issues are unsolvable, but the application of technology can sometimes sufficiently help. It sounds rather frankly, does it not? New "types" of students represent a generation born with a computer mouse in hand and a computer screen as a window to the world. They are also known as Homo Zappiens. The name Homo Zappiens is derived from the Latin word "homo" (man) and the onomatopoeia of brandishing laser weapons "zap-zap-zap", or of changing TV channels with the remote control. Homo Zappiens plays computer games, communicates 24/7 with the help of various tools and software, creates virtual friendships with fb friends, preferring the Internet and mobile phones to the printed media. Homo Zappiens likes to play computer games in which there are no winners and losers, which are without a beginning or end, and where it is possible to continuously change the rules of the game. Digital technology has become a part of education and it influences the needs of today's students, curricula, and the overall organizational structure of educational institutions. What these new "types" of students need is a more flexible educational system. The process of learning belongs to them and they become clients to be served. Therefore, flexibility must be reflected in the learning objectives and tasks, content, strategies, methods and forms of work, verification of knowledge, technology and media, and time and study environment. This paper discusses the new "types" of students who study in a manner quite different from previous generations. Due to the rapid development of technology new types of students who learn a completely different way have been created. They are able to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Thus, schools must adapt to the discontinuity of the modern era which makes traditionally oriented educational concept rather unstable.

Published

16 June 2025

How to Cite

[1]
2025. New generations of students, new school creators. Smart Urban Development - Dezvoltare Urbană Inteligentă. Book Series. 205–214.