Stupefying Americans by the Digital Age - Essay Example

Critical Analysis Paper Section The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes our Future is a book by Mark Bauerlein, which explains the influences of digital technology on the young generation. Bauerlein features individuals below thirty years of age highlighting the manner in which they have been impacted by contemporary communication technology. Bauerlein claims that technology has affected the intellectual development of the youth and created a wide gap between them and those above the age of thirty in the society. He argues that technological innovations, which have been made to enhance communications such as use of Skype, cell phones, internet, cable television and text messaging, have isolated the young generation from the adults instead of bringing them closer. He believes that communication technology has highly confused the young adults. Throughout his book, Bauerlein argues that technology has stupefied the young people, who are using these devices to learn pop culture instead of searching important information on civil values, history and philosophy. Bauerlein explains the alarming trends, which the American youths have adopted because of technology. For instance, he uses statistics to show the increased levels of college and high school dropout cases, which have increased because of communication technology. Additionally, he explains that the levels of illiteracy have risen, with young adults disregarding traditional values and knowledge. Bauerlein explains that these trends have been caused by advancements in technology, which have seen the introduction of the digital era. He, however, blames mentors and educators, whom he claims to be advocates of technology to be the chief facilitators of the changes that are experienced among the young adults. He claims that teachers have betrayed the young generation because they do not emphasize the significance of traditional values and knowledge. “Blame also, the teachers, professors… who will not insist on the value of knowledge and tradition, who will not judge cultural novelties by the high standards set by the past…” (Bauerlein 65). Bauerlein tries to explain how teachers have facilitated to societal failures by bringing up undisciplined learners. He argues that the form of education that teachers are offering and the teaching of digital media in schools is not sufficient to sustain the future of the young adults because it opposes traditional values. Additionally, Bauerlein claims that most educators encourage learners to establish their identity, but are not allowed to refer to traditional knowledge where they can get this information with ease. He explains that learners are encouraged to confront usual forms and use their own means to establish identity. In his book, he claims that learning in the past generations has been helpful in establishing firm foundations for adolescents to face the future. “Many generations ago, adolescent years meant preparation for something beyond adolescence” (Bauerlein 67). With this perception, he believes that the current studies and education programs allow students to be lazy and undisciplined. Educators and teachers encourage learners to oppose traditional values and knowledge and, therefore, bring up adolescents who cannot confront the future. Although Bauerlein agrees with the fact that technology improves knowledge, he disagrees with the idea of it increasing knowledge among learners. To support his argument, he compares performance results of 1995 and 2005. With these, he explains that digital advancements have not been helpful in school settings and have affected student performance. Bauerlein explains that despite the declining trends in educational performance, educators are still pushing for digital migration, and many have replaced school programs with digital media. Section 2 Although Bauerlein argues that technological innovations have stupefied the minds of young adults through learning of pop culture, rejecting the appreciation of traditional values and knowledge, he does not support his argument with convincing explanations. The author does not offer definitions of the knowledge he is referring to. Although knowledge can be acquired from different sources, Bauerlein does not appreciate them. His lack of appreciation for adoption of the digital age and use of technology in learning shows clearly that he does not accept change. Throughout the life of human beings, various generations have existed, each having its own features, which characterize it. The current generation, which Bauerlein is focusing in his book, is characterized by technological advancements, which have influenced modern communication. This is a clear indication that the digital era has not confused the young adults, but the older adolescents above thirty years of age because they do not appreciate the current changes, which have occurred in the society. Bauerlein blames teachers and mentors for failing to emphasize in teaching traditional knowledge and values to learners and instead replacing school programs with digital technology. This claim lacks basis because the education system needs to be improved to meet the current needs of learners. Bauerlein fails to appreciate the fact that technology has eased both teachers and students work. Technology has facilitated easy access of information and materials relieving students from perusing large volumes of books. This also saves the time that could be spend going through books to search for information. Use of technology helps learners to do wide and explicit research on a particular topic because they offer a variety of information. This information offers a chance for learners to choose the appropriate materials they can rely on. Additionally, technological information is cheap compared to purchasing books, the reason why many educators are replacing school programs with digital technology. This will ensure that all learners have equal access to sufficient learning materials. Technology also encourages independent learning, improving one’s ability to learn. Bauerlein does not appreciate the fact that students are using modern technological devices to research important information, but rather in downloading movies and games, which has facilitated learning of pop culture. Learning of pop culture has been in existence since time immemorial. The only difference is that the old generation did not have access to the current devices in which they could get this information directly without visiting theatres. The spread of pop culture has been done through music for ages, and the availability of videos and animations is an improved version of the old. Bauerlein, however, opposes this fact and wants to make it appear like a new trend, which has been influenced by technology. A movie is in the category of theoretical performances, which were and are done today in local performances. Downloading movies is cheaper compared to paying for a live performance. Going by Bauerleins claims, one would ask, "what makes a movie worse than a play?" attending a live performance and watching a downloaded movie will all serve to promote and appreciate the culture. This is a clear indication that Bauerlein is just making claims without sufficient information to offer convincing explanations. Technology has helped in improving the knowledge of young adults to a greater extend. Although he agrees with digital enthusiasts that digital media improves knowledge through supply of sufficient information, he refutes these claims. He argues that this is not applicable with students. The performance result comparisons he offers to support his claims are not effective. Students performance in a certain year is influenced by different factors. Bauerlein compares the performances based on technology, without taking in consideration both internal and external factors, which could have influenced such performances. Although technology can affect education negatively, the magnitude of its effects cannot be used to determine results. He fails to appreciate the fact that technology will boost educational performance because learners will have access to adequate materials to refer to whenever they are learning. Additionally, the improved knowledge they will gain because of technology will enable them to challenge their teachers, who will also go for pre-service to improve their expertise. This in turn will improve the levels of learning hence improved performance. Section 3 The arguments made by Bauerlein throughout his book made me develop questions on whether we are the Dumbest Generation. Mark Bauerlein argues that advancements in modern communication have affected the young people negatively, by making them less intelligent. He adds that they have insufficient knowledge about culture and traditional values. Conversely, the adults in our society claim that the young generation has been highly influenced by technology, which has affected their mindsets and thinking. The arguments presented by both Bauerlein and the ageing generation offer sufficient information that qualify the young adults to be called the dumbest generation. By contrast, educational mentors and teachers support the advances in technology, which have seen the introduction of the digital era and systems in the current generation. Technological developers argue that digital media has improved students knowledge through sufficient information that is available online. The intellectual revolution that young adults are experiencing does not qualify them to be referred as the dumbest generation. Technology use has both positive and negative aspects, which influence the under thirty generation. It is, however, clear that technological advancements have positively influenced this generation through improved and fast means of receiving and sending information and improving their knowledge and learning. Communication has been facilitated through social networking, which enables distant individuals to communicate without strain. Additionally, availability of learning materials online through the internet has enabled learners to become independent and conduct their studies with ease. Technological advancements have replaced the traditional ways of doing things, improving people’s ability and thinking. It has challenged the minds of the modern generation, improving their logical capabilities, a factor that has contributed to the existing differences between them and the past generation. Bauerlein’s lack of appreciation for the digital media makes him develop harsh and insufficient claims against the current generation. It is clear that the changes seen in the contemporary young adults has been contributed by their appreciation of changes brought by technology and thus cannot be referred as the dumbest generation. In conclusion, although The Dumbest offers various claims against technological advancements, it is clear that Bauerlein did not take time to weigh the pros and cons of the digital media. Bauerlein is harsh with the changes he has experienced with the under thirties because he does not appreciate them as a different generation. Bauerlein, however, should respect the fact that each generation has its own features and that the modern young adults are characterized by technological innovations. Work Cited Bauerlein, Mark. The dumbest generation: How the digital age stupefies young Americans and jeopardizes our future (or, do not trust anyone under 30). Penguin. com, 2008: 1-136. Print. Read More