During my more than a decade long period of teaching, I have seen a drastic change the way in which people learn. The current generation spends more time on TV, Internet and probably computer games. They have more opportunities than my generation, and dont have to struggle as much as we did in getting a well paid job. In life too, they have more to choose from. I am genuinely happy that they have these opprotunities and choices that were denied to us.
A generation born out of getting answers instantaneously through web or that gathers news by listening to headlines on TV or used to watching a 3 hour 20-20 cricket match than a 5 day Test match or gets the notion that success can be achieved easily like those participants in the reality show needs to be taught in a different way.
The current crops attention span is limited and they are less keen on dependent/ instructor led training. The focus of the teachers should be on developing those skills the students have that supports independant learning.
In olden days formal learning ends at the college level and the rest is learning accrued through experience. But todays generation can be trained to do continuous learning throughout their lifetime. The job of the modern teacher should be to create self-directed learners who are motivated to learn every day for as long as possible.
This calls for a paradigm shift.
