Reflection 1 - I feel that students truly are becoming more technology inclined. Some college students depend on their computers for daily tasks while others only use them when required, but it is rare to see a college student that DOES NOT use a computer for any reason.
Apart from the need for technology I can also see a difference in the requirement that some students have of a textbook or notebook paper. Some college students can come to class with a laptop and never have to take a written note, others (like myself) wouldn't know what to do without a pencil and paper in a classroom.
Reflection 2 - I do feel that students today are much more dependent on group collaboration and hands-on exercises. In the past a text book and an instructor were all that one "needed" to be successful, now there is a lot more that students expect to spice up their classroom experience.
Reflection 3 - One insight that I recognize immediately is the idea of individuality on MANY levels. These theories suggest that teachers should address students individually, students should express themselves as individuals and peers should reflect on the individuality of each other. This idea of individuality is very different from the educational ideas that are often referred to as 'cookie-cutter.' New engagement strategies are not only useful within the classroom, these are traits that students can carry into their places of work and it will help them blend with the growing trends represented throughout our culture.
I personally probably couldn't survive without my smartphone. I have my life planned away in there, plus a running checklist of task I need to complete. I also use it frequently to search for things on the internet whenever a question may arise. However, I do not think I could get the most out of my notes if I didn't write them down. Even though I can type much faster than I write, handwriting is personal and stands out more in my memory versus typing something up because that can quickly get mixed up with something else I typed for a different class. While I think technology is extremely beneficial when used properly, there are some situations where it can be a distraction in the classroom. I know that if I brought my laptop to class with me, I would be tempted to log onto Pinterest.
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