Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation

Rating:
Summary: Gen X perspective on the N-Gen phenomenon
Review: Being in the "Baby Bust" generation, and seeing what is on the horizon for the next generation, I was compelled to read this book. Overall, I was frightened. Frightened because I see a lot of what Tapscott describes coming true in today's companies.

What I liked most: I liked the fact that this book relied on actually interviewing the N-gen crowd and finding out what they really think versus creating theories based on what we "think" these n-genners believe. For instance, with increasing demands to add net nannies and additional constraints in order to "protect" our children, we have to think about what we are really afraid of. All of the thinks like pornography and net stalkers do exist, but today's n-genner is much more intelligent and not as interested in these things as the baby boomers would lead us to think.

In our doctoral program, we focus on social learning. Increasingly I see that being infused into the work world. Tapscott talks about the N-gen as being interested in communication, interaction, and having their opinions heard. In highly creative youth filled companies, there is room for play, open expression of ideas, learning from one another in terms of mentoring and OJT skills. Contrast this to the "normal" hierarchical corporate culture where training is limited, people sit in cubicles, and fraternizing is seen as wasting time. Increasingly, as more n-genners enter the workforce, social learning will need to become the standard, or good talent will go elsewhere.

While I started learning to program computers in junior high on a radioshack TRS-80, what I learned was nothing compared to what these kids are learning. Two year olds are using computer games. 14 year olds have their own web companies. 18 year olds have their own multi-million dollar companies. What becomes increasingly frightening is how we can teach people whose knowledge and abilities often times surpass what they will learn in school. Tapscott talks about the fact that most students will know more about, and how to effectively use, technology than their teachers. What moves do we need to make in education to accomodate this?

Overall, this was a great book to learn about how technology affects the future, especially considering the generational lags. The only thing that I would disagree with were a few things that seemed a little "pie in the sky" for my tastes. I think there was a lot of good research done, but it doesn't seem that everything would work out as positively as he described.

Rating:
Summary: Teaching in the 90's: Rising with "The Net Generation"
Review: Don Tapscott announces the arrival of the "Net Generation" or "Baby Boom Echo" in Growing Up Digital: The Rise Of The Net Generation. For the first time in history the generations are turned backwards. The children truly teach their parents and grandparents. Businesses, schools, and governments all are relying on the expertise and ease with which this generation adapts to technology; that is, if these young people are part of the economically advantaged - those with the means to have technology available in their schools, homes, and entertainment venues. Tapscott contends that the net-generation is actually more active than the tv generation. Since tv is passive, it allows for little or no participation. The net, however, requires searching for information rather than just accepting others information. In this book, Tapscott outlines ten themes: fierce independence; emotional and intellectual openness; inclusion; free expression and strong views; innovation; preoccupation with maturity; investigation; immediacy; sensitivity to corporate interest; and authentication and trust. For the most part, he outlines the advantages of each of these themes. Below find his ideas marked with an asterisk. The ideas without asterisk are arguments he fails to emphasize or note. 1. Fierce Independence Advantage: Active role in learning* Disadvantage: Separation from institutions and creative autonomy* 2. Emotional and Intellectual Openness Advantage: Self-expression* Disadvantage: Can be taken advantage of by unscrupulous entities 3. Inclusion Advantage: Students have a global orientation* Disadvantage: None apparent 4. Free Expression and Strong Views Advantage: Range of ideas* Disadvantage: Exposure to radical or inflammatory ideas 5. Innovation Advantage: Creativity* Disadvantage: Overload of ideas 6. Preoccupation With Maturity Advantage: Writing skills advanced to make it seem they're older.* Disadvantage: Predators 7. Investigation Advantage: Strong ethos of curiosity, investigation, and empowerment to change things.* Disadvantage: Exposure to too wide a range of information 8. Immediacy Advantage: Light speed* Disadvantage: Deemphasizes long-term goals, fosters impatience 9. Sensitivity to Corporate Interest Advantage: Makes them wary of intentions* Disadvantage: Lack of Trust 10. Authentication and Trust Advantage: Makes child aware of rumors and inaccurate information* Disadvantage: Knowing it's impossible to guarantee truth*

Tapscott also addresses "The Digital Divide": the inequality of access to the internet. He points out that schools in wealthier communities are more likely to have internet access, and that access alone is not enough. Teacher training and increased community access are among his suggestions for improvement. Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation deals with many of the concerns and the joys of the new age. For the most part, it gives fair evaluations of its themes. The inclusion of many personal examples helps the reader through the maze of the new technology. Charts which spell out everything from "Cyber Smileys" to internet availability in schools helps the reader visualize the information. The notes and bibliography are an aide to anyone wanting to follow up and/or to present inservice information. The best about the book is that it clarifies and puts into perspective the change that has overwhelmed most educators. It takes away the mystery and fear that have paralyzed some adults. At best, it trains a few teachers to pass the information and spirit along. At worst, it passes over many of the dangers inherent in its freedom and trivializes privacy rights anf parents' right to know what is being taught.

Rating:
Summary: Insightful!
Review: Don Tapscott has compiled information about today's youth and what they will mean to the future of the economy and society. He interviewed children extensively and he found that the new generation bases its thinking on technology. Its ideas of work and play are very different from those in the past.

The book is an easy read, written in a way that draws you into the world of today's youth. Common misconceptions about kids are tossed away in favor of information about the realities of this generation. Companies that wish to compete in the new millennium are urged to throw off the past and embrace the new generation and its ideas. Tapscott describes the Net Generation in a very good light - almost too good to be true. The book is well written and interesting. It can help any organization prepare for the future. We at getAbstract recommend the book to executives who deal with strategic issues or manage technology intensive companies.

Rating:
Summary: Net Geners Seize the Day and the Future
Review: Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation. Don Tapscott 1998.

Tapscott acknowledges and celebrates that "The Children of a Digital Age" are reconfiguring our work environments, relationships, educational systems and learning modes, concepts of citizenship and democracy, and our present and future.

Tapscott, author of "Digital Economy" and others, President of New Paradigm Learning Corporation and chairman of a think tank funded by leading technology and government organizations, offers an insiders view of the "Net Generation".

The "N-Geners" are over 88 million strong and represent the largest demographic group in the United States and Canada. They are the pioneering generation growing up immersed in the ubiquitous new digital media - computers, the Internet, CD-ROMs, video games and more. Forget a childhood of imaginary playmates - "Net Geners" now use their imaginations and technology skills to communicate across the Web, ignoring limitations of location and time via digital media. Major themes explored in "Growing Up Digital" include social transformation, democracy and citizenship, the nature of education, learning, business, communication and interactivity in the digital media era.

Tapscott approaches this post "Smells like Teen Spirit" Nirvana-generation with sheer fascination and importantly, respect. Tapscott's strength is his willingness to listen. As a young "N-Gener" interviewee points out, she feels that adults take her opinion more seriously because she may know more about technology than they do. The Net interview discussions with 300 youth between the age of four and twenty, led by a research team leader all of 24 years old, produced fascinating insights into our future - who we are and who will be as students, teachers, workers, citizens, consumers. Tapscott's exuberance for our collective "brave new world" as a digital media-shaped society is tempered by an acknowledgement of the widening global digital divide. He points out that "N-Geners" may end up a fractured society of Information Haves and Have-Nots - a situation all too reminiscent of inequalities not new to this century.

Need to catch up on your children's or your students' tech lingo? Why can your daughter or son access and manage these technologies with grace and a sense of play while the rest of us and our last century contemporaries secretly scratch our heads? Written in 1998, Tapscott's book is a manual for the 21st century. Other academicians may research these areas from a deeper scholarly, research-oriented perspective. Tapscott offers an enjoyable and illuminating read for educators, parents, business moguls - anyone with a vested interest in joining in the information revolution - everyone except "Net Geners" themselves - they already know...

Teresa Grenot
Doctoral Student
Pepperdine University

Rating:
Summary: Growing Up Digital
Review: In his book "Growing up Digital", Don Tapscott introduces to us a new generation of computer users-the N-Gen generation. Unlike Baby Boomers and Generation Xers, N-Geners are growing up in an interactive world, a world where the phrase "technological revolution" means as little to them as "Woodstock" or "The Cold War". By interviewing a mixed group of more than 300 N-Geners, Tapscott presents different ways N-Geners develop, learn, think, interact, react, work and play. From his interviews and observations, Tapscott makes some general observations and predictions about the ways the media, educational systems, corporations and consumers will change to accommodate them.

"Growing up Digital" begins with a discussion on the differences between the N-Gen generation and those before it. The most significant of the differences is the interactivity and self-directed learning that is available to N-Geners via the Internet. As a whole, N-Geners do not watch nearly as much television as their parents did. Also, because of the wide-range of services available on-line, and the ability to comparison shop at the click of a button, this generation seeks information and expects "the best for less."

Tapscott then dedicates separate chapters for the way the N-Gen generation thinks, works, learns, plays, shops and interacts with their families. Throughout the chapters he supports his findings with direct quotes from N-Geners and excerpts from "chat room" dialogues. Common misconceptions and concerns about kids abusing the Internet and becoming socially inept are addressed. In fact, Tapcsott discusses how computers and the Internet can be useful tools for interactive learning, social development and multi-tasking.

Also discussed in "Growing up Digital" is current state and outcome of using computers as learning tools in the classroom, and the roles corporations can play to support the development of the skills of their future employees. The existence of a "generation gap" between the N-Gen generation and the generations before them, combined with a "digital divide" amongst their own generation, are the among the challenging of the challenges facing N-Geners.

The last chapter of "Growing Up Digital" is entitled "Leaders of the Future", and begins in the following way, "As N-Gen comes of age, what kind of world will they create? They are the best-informed and most active generation ever. These young people will dominate most of the twenty-first century. As they take, transform, or smash the reins of power, culture and social development, what can we expect? What values will they hold? How will they shape the world?" (page 281)

Tapscott predicts we will see the most influential changes in the way businesses are re-shaped to become more open and less hierarchical. Customers will dictate the way products and services are catered to them. Teams will become global and business will occur across new boundaries and borders. Proactive "twenty-first century" companies and organizations will embrace change and seek to truly understand N-Geners as they enter the workforce-and the most successful of them all will empower the N-Generation with access to the technology that will truly help them grow.

Rating:
Summary: Best of the best.
Review: Maybe my expectations were too high based on the reviews. I found most of the information in this book to be news items. Also, anyone that follows technology in the news will not find much insight into this book. The book is an overview of how the younger generation uses technology in their social lives, play and work. If you are not very familiar with the internet and don't watch the news this book would be worthwhile. However, anyone who uses the internet and keeps up on the news won't get much out of it.

Rating:
Summary: The Call of the N-Geners
Review: Tapscott's compelling book provides us with an elucidating glimpse and revelation as to how the Net Generation's facility with the digital media is changing human interactions and impacting our future, with specific reference to education, business, economics, politics, and even parenting. These "bathed in bits" children, those between 2 and 22 in 2000, are characterized as tolerant of diversity, self-confident, curious, assertive, self-reliant, contrarian, flexible, and highly intelligent. These characteristics are a necessary consequence of their generation's exposure to the Net. The Net's structure has allowed for a more fluid interchange of information and interactive type of communication. In cyberspace, there are no hierarchies and the readily available access to information has created in its young netizens the quest to search for and be critical of information. This new information model is a digression and radical shift from the industrial, broadcast model that is top-down, linear, centralized, and passive. The new model is the antithesis of this broadcast model because it is interactive, distributed, and malleable.

"For the first time in history youth are an authority on an innovation central to society's development" (Preface, ix). Our children know a lot more than we do in terms of technology. According to Tapscott, this situation has created not just a generation gap, but a generation lap, akin to race track leads measured in terms of gaps that consequently metaphorically heightens the stark contrast of technological knowledge between children and parents. Because these children are born with technology, they assimilate them, rather than accommodate them, which is what adults do to cope with technological advances that often produces cognitive friction for them.

Whatever our station in life is or whatever role we play now, the N-Geners have serious implications for us. Tapscott mentions that they are "learning, developing, and thriving in the digital world. They need better tools, better access, more services, and more freedom to explore, not the opposite" (p. 7). Here lie the implications and challenges for us. For instance, in the workplace, these youngsters will function better in a decentralized, independent, collaborative, and innovative environment. In the educational arena, our old and outdated paradigms of teaching and learning need to change because these methodologies do not address the need of these people for more interactive and non-linear approaches to learning.

As a force of unprecedented social transformation, we can learn from the experiences of these N-Geners, and listen to their needs and concerns, if we are to proactively shape the technologically driven future we all will be heading to. Tapscott admonishes us by saying that the future is not something that is predicted, but is rather a goal to be achieved. In our hands as educators, parents, business people, politicians... lies the future. Will we choose to be prepared? Will we heed the "Call of the N-Geners"?

Rating:
Summary: The medium, not the content
Review: The book and its content are important to a host of audiences - from the educational industry and its providers, to the teachers and student, and to the parents.

UNFORTUNATELY, I made the mistake of purchasing the e-book version. This does not allow printing, nor does it allow selecting text for attributing quotes in papers or documents.

This could be a great distribution medium, but with these types of restrictions, they reduce the motivation for me to ever purchase another e-book. I can at least photocopy "regular" book pages for my files. Given the topic of advancing technologies, ham-stringing this new medium is counter to the ideas presented in "Growing Up Digital".

Rating:
Summary: N-Geners are Heroes
Review: This book will definitely appeal to young people. The author creates the term 'N-Generation' obstensibly because Generation-Y was owned by another author. The book creates a super youth culture that is underappreciated and misunderstood. If you want to write a book that will appeal to young people and get a good rating on the college campus ... just trash the previous generation and the youth will scramble on board the turnip cart. This book does a disservice to youth and to the previous generation by promoting stereotypes, underscoring obscure opinions, and understating the contributions made by the Boomers.
The author should keep in mind that the N-geners didn't create computers and for the most part, they are clueless when it comes to coding. They do not qualify as experts ... not by a long shot. To encourage youth today to believe that they are experts in computers ... and the people who designed them are not ... is setting them up for real disappointment.
The author's opinions on TV and media are also absurd. He creates a model in which the state of everything that is not N-Gen is fixed and unchanging ... while the opposite is true for his heroes. Perhaps the most convincing argument that can be made against this author's opinions is that a good deal of his computer-based examples are already 'off-the-air'. Moreover, his characterization of the pre-web media era as being fearful of the new technology is way off base ... and today's integration of technologies is proof of this.
The book was written to promote sales rather than good, usable, and thoughtful ideas. Young people will adore this author ... not because he makes a good case ... but because he writes what they want to hear ... and makes them feel the way they want to feel ... like heroes.

Rating:
Summary: N-Geners are Heroes
Review: This book will definitely appeal to young people. The author creates the term 'N-Generation' obstensibly because Generation-Y was owned by another author. The book creates a super youth culture that is underappreciated and misunderstood. If you want to write a book that will appeal to young people and get a good rating on the college campus ... just trash the previous generation and the youth will scramble on board the turnip cart. This book does a disservice to youth and to the previous generation by promoting stereotypes, underscoring obscure opinions, and understating the contributions made by the Boomers.
The author should keep in mind that the N-geners didn't create computers and for the most part, they are clueless when it comes to coding. They do not qualify as experts ... not by a long shot. To encourage youth today to believe that they are experts in computers ... and the people who designed them are not ... is setting them up for real disappointment.
The author's opinions on TV and media are also absurd. He creates a model in which the state of everything that is not N-Gen is fixed and unchanging ... while the opposite is true for his heroes. Perhaps the most convincing argument that can be made against this author's opinions is that a good deal of his computer-based examples are already 'off-the-air'. Moreover, his characterization of the pre-web media era as being fearful of the new technology is way off base ... and today's integration of technologies is proof of this.
The book was written to promote sales rather than good, usable, and thoughtful ideas. Young people will adore this author ... not because he makes a good case ... but because he writes what they want to hear ... and makes them feel the way they want to feel ... like heroes.