NetGeneration

I considered my self pretty "up on technology" until I read Oblingers Net Generation. I consider myself kinda a computer geek. I'm a Quality Assurance Software Analyst in an IT department for an Insurance Company in Allentown. I thought I was the "Net Generation" since I'm fascinated by new technologies. However, recently when I upgraded by cell phone I found there's many features on it I don't know how to use and I haven't even entered all my contacts yet...a month and 1/2 later. I'm really not even interested in learning the features on the new phone. As I read through Oblingers article, I found that I'm not in the Net Generation, I'm actually a Nontraditional Learner. I attend LCCC part time, work full-time and started college at age 35. I'm a single parent with a dependent child. I completely fit into that category with the exception that I do have a high school diploma.
I believe my son who is now 7 already takes technology for granted. We only have a cell phone in our home...no need for a house phone. He's been "playing" on the computer since he's age 2 1/2 where he began to use it in daycare. I was shocked one morning when I say him entering the letter "c" at the little carrot < in order to get his game to run on the old machine. Game boy goes everywhere with him and when he comes home from school, he wants to play Playstation on our digital HGTV. He's asking for the Wii for Christmas this year. I sure hope the price comes down til then. He doesn't know that he's using technology since it's all he's ever known. Yet my parents who are in their 50's now, have no idea how to logon a computer. My mother is afraid of the "mouse."

Jayne Dietz