It's obvious that today's students' taste in music, clothes, and technology has massively changed since 2007, and even more since 1997, but what about the way they learn? The teachers of Reddit were asked this very question, and the differences they revealed between students from each decade are both humorous and troubling.
Some educators observed positive changes, like an increase in overall politeness among young people, and the acceptance of diversity in the classroom. Others, however, noted lower self-confidence, higher anxiety, and an unhealthy dependence on technology and the Internet as only the beginning of the problems learners face in 2017.
Scroll down to find out what teachers from 1997, 2007, and 2017 said about how students have changed over each era, and if you're a teacher yourself, add your testimony at the end!
#41
1997 kids wanted to change the world.
2007 kids wanted to be famous.
2017 kids want to make money.
2007 kids wanted to be famous.
2017 kids want to make money.
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9points
#42
1997: Elementary and Secondary Education Act
2007: No Child Left Behind
2017: Memes
2007: No Child Left Behind
2017: Memes
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9points
#43
Teacher of 10 years now and graduated HS in the late 90's.
When I was in school, missing over a certain amount of days would result in automatic failure for the year, so attendance was good for most students. The internet was still basic and most didn't have access, which forced you to use a lot of time in libraries to research topics for assignments. This created grit in students, and even if there was "wasted" time, you would learn a lot of stuff even if it wasn't necessary for completing the assignment. Music players and phones were prohibited, so there were fewer distractions in classes. Deadlines were deadlines, and if you missed it, you were penalized or f*cked.
When I first started teaching, the internet was available widely and a lot of students just copied and pasted from the internet to complete assignments, and the depth of understanding seemed superficial. However, they did seek out the information independently with minimal teacher assistance, and would normally be able to complete assignments. Cell phones began to creep into classes, but it wasn't an issue for the most part. Teachers seemed to give easier assignments and were more flexible with deadlines, which many students took advantage of.
Now, students are much less willing to work independently on assignments. They constantly ask for help, even in simpler assignments. Unless assignments come with graphic organizers that have boxes for each kind of information necessary and several models that explicitly show how to integrate it, they shut down or don't do the assignment.
When I was in school, missing over a certain amount of days would result in automatic failure for the year, so attendance was good for most students. The internet was still basic and most didn't have access, which forced you to use a lot of time in libraries to research topics for assignments. This created grit in students, and even if there was "wasted" time, you would learn a lot of stuff even if it wasn't necessary for completing the assignment. Music players and phones were prohibited, so there were fewer distractions in classes. Deadlines were deadlines, and if you missed it, you were penalized or f*cked.
When I first started teaching, the internet was available widely and a lot of students just copied and pasted from the internet to complete assignments, and the depth of understanding seemed superficial. However, they did seek out the information independently with minimal teacher assistance, and would normally be able to complete assignments. Cell phones began to creep into classes, but it wasn't an issue for the most part. Teachers seemed to give easier assignments and were more flexible with deadlines, which many students took advantage of.
Now, students are much less willing to work independently on assignments. They constantly ask for help, even in simpler assignments. Unless assignments come with graphic organizers that have boxes for each kind of information necessary and several models that explicitly show how to integrate it, they shut down or don't do the assignment.
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8points
#45
'97 - What do I need to know?
'17 - Why do I need to know this since I can look it up?
'17 - Why do I need to know this since I can look it up?
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8points
#46
I taught third grade in 1995 ( raising twins in 97). The children were much more respectful, and played outdoors way more often. I am currently teaching third grade again and I see a huge difference. Today, children are easily distracted, and have no confidence. Most children won't do a math problem independently, or have the stamina to complete a reading passage. Many children are disrespectful, they talk back to adults and don't know how to solve their own problems. Don't get me wrong, there are many good things about teaching in 2017.
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7points
#47
Started teaching 5th grade in 1997. Still at it.
In my eyes, there is no difference. The kids are no different. Suburban 10-11 year olds are almost exactly the same across a spectrum of social, interpersonal and academic skill. If you gave me any of those kids from that 97 class, I guarantee you that they would slide in somewhere very similar to where they were in terms of socialization and academic performance. In two months, if you just observed the class, the only way you would know who had come from the past would be--maybe--utility with technology.
In my eyes, there is no difference. The kids are no different. Suburban 10-11 year olds are almost exactly the same across a spectrum of social, interpersonal and academic skill. If you gave me any of those kids from that 97 class, I guarantee you that they would slide in somewhere very similar to where they were in terms of socialization and academic performance. In two months, if you just observed the class, the only way you would know who had come from the past would be--maybe--utility with technology.
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7points
#48
Teaching Computing since 2006. In 2006, 11 year olds arrived to secondary school very good at using powerpoint. In 2010 that changed to programming in Scratch. In 2017, most 11 year olds cannot type so have issues logging in. Many have never used a keyboard and mouse, they're used to touchscreen devices and playing on apps.
Primary teaching has become very much app based and schools have caved to the pressure of parents and invested in tablets.
Secondary school teachers now need to teach 11 year olds basic IT skills and digital literacy.
TLDR: The term digital native is a fallacy. In 2007, all students were digitally literate. In 2017, all of them know how to use a smartphone and tablet as a consumer but not a PC as a producer.
Primary teaching has become very much app based and schools have caved to the pressure of parents and invested in tablets.
Secondary school teachers now need to teach 11 year olds basic IT skills and digital literacy.
TLDR: The term digital native is a fallacy. In 2007, all students were digitally literate. In 2017, all of them know how to use a smartphone and tablet as a consumer but not a PC as a producer.
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6points
#49
1997: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."
2007: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, and these words sting pretty tough too."
2017: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but these words sting too, so let me hurt myself to take away the pain."
2007: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, and these words sting pretty tough too."
2017: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but these words sting too, so let me hurt myself to take away the pain."
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6points
#50
Graduated HS in 93. Taught middle school. I noticed a definite change regarding phones/social media. Went through the whole adjustment of no one having a phone to trying to enforce rules about phones to just dealing with them. (From a teachers perspective, I'd like to smash the shit out of their phones when they're using them in class. Kids think they are sneaky, some are really not.) anyway, went from kids being dicks about phones to now being cool and better about being polite about it. Definitely more parental involvement now as opposed to 10 yrs ago. I feel students today want to be told exactly what to do and won't risk trying to figure it out on their own. (My husband just hired two assistants who are 22 & 23 in his job-- he says they are constantly needing guidance for stuff they should be able to figure out on their own. It's just interesting that he is seeing it as well and has nothing to do with education.) students today are more aware of Social issues. Most Kids in 1997 weren't thinking about equality and immigration or anything political. Now kids are much more informed And mostly more tolerant. Kids today do not seem to care about being outside as much. Probably bc the media overdose has everyone convinced there's a pervert or murderer behind ever bush. I find myself spending ridiculous amounts of time on my phone looking at Reddit, and other digital entertainment. It is strange to realize how it feels like a waste of time. In 1997 this was not a problem. So, it is not just changing students, it is a change in all of us. Teaching has certainly become a lot cooler as far as the technology goes. Not so much with the administrative interference.
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5points
#51
I was a student in 1997 (first year of HS) and thankfully we didn't have eight million standardized tests to take!
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5points
#52
The main difference is the knowledge available to them.
The internet is huge now. You can look up just about anything and have it explained to you in several different ways with tons of examples. It wasn't that way before.
My school gives every student a laptop and has Wi-Fi in every classroom. In 2007, schools had computer labs with internet and maybe a cart of laptops for classroom use, but those laptops likely didn't have internet. They were for writing papers.
In 1997, schools maybe had a single computer in every room. Maybe a computer lab.
The students are basically the same. Middle schoolers are shitty and immature and sweet and hilarious all at once. All that has changed is that now they act that way through Snapchat and Instagram rather than through passing notes.
The internet is huge now. You can look up just about anything and have it explained to you in several different ways with tons of examples. It wasn't that way before.
My school gives every student a laptop and has Wi-Fi in every classroom. In 2007, schools had computer labs with internet and maybe a cart of laptops for classroom use, but those laptops likely didn't have internet. They were for writing papers.
In 1997, schools maybe had a single computer in every room. Maybe a computer lab.
The students are basically the same. Middle schoolers are shitty and immature and sweet and hilarious all at once. All that has changed is that now they act that way through Snapchat and Instagram rather than through passing notes.
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5points
#53
New teacher but this is my take:
1997: Likely haven't had a chance to use a computer at age 9.
2007: Capable of typing faster than teacher at age 9.
2017: Incapable to distinguish a picture frame from a computer. Purpose of key with the word "shift" on it unknown.
1997: Likely haven't had a chance to use a computer at age 9.
2007: Capable of typing faster than teacher at age 9.
2017: Incapable to distinguish a picture frame from a computer. Purpose of key with the word "shift" on it unknown.
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5points
#54
1997 : I can't wait for 2000 when we'll magically fly in the cyberspace and all.
2007 : I wish we were still in 2000 when I was just a kindergartner and all was easy
2017 : So, how was 2000? Was there still dinosaurs or did they all disappear in that y2k bug we heard about in history class?
2007 : I wish we were still in 2000 when I was just a kindergartner and all was easy
2017 : So, how was 2000? Was there still dinosaurs or did they all disappear in that y2k bug we heard about in history class?
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4points
#55
'97 - (Little regard to terrorism)
'07 - "Remember 9/11?"
'17 - "Can you explain what 9/11 was? I wasn't born yet."
'07 - "Remember 9/11?"
'17 - "Can you explain what 9/11 was? I wasn't born yet."
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3points
#56
I'm only 24 (born 1992) but I'm in grad school for secondary education currently and I'm student teaching at my old high school. I eat lunch with my old social studies teachers and we've discussed the differences between my high school years (07-11) and now. The main difference is the access to smart phones and high speed internet. Kids no longer have to memorize monotonous facts and years because 9/10 times they can just google the information. Now kids can focus on more abstract information or more creative analysis. However more times than not kids just send snapchats and look at Star Wars memes in class.
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3points
#57
Not a teacher but old: In high school (late 80's) me and my friends used to play "The Assassination Game" where we would shoot each other with those suction-cup and nerf guns. Anywhere. Between-class battles were common. We would even sneak out of class, open the door to a class that a friend was in and shoot them in the back of the head. Right in front of the teacher and the whole class. The only thing that would happen is we get our guns taken away. We had several back-ups in our lockers.
The other thing was I was in band and had a crush on several of the flag corps. I would draw these scenes (art geek too) where the flag corps were viciously murdering the entire band with their ninja-type flag weapons. The whole thing. Beheadings, disembowelment, evisceration. Everyone loved them. Including the band-directors who would post them in the window of their offices so that everyone could see them. I cannot see that happening today.
The other thing was I was in band and had a crush on several of the flag corps. I would draw these scenes (art geek too) where the flag corps were viciously murdering the entire band with their ninja-type flag weapons. The whole thing. Beheadings, disembowelment, evisceration. Everyone loved them. Including the band-directors who would post them in the window of their offices so that everyone could see them. I cannot see that happening today.
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3points
#58
Some things change a lot:
1997 - The drug dealers had pagers
2007 - The rich kids had iphones
2017 - Every kid has a smartphone and won't stop playing with it.
1997 - The drug dealers had pagers
2007 - The rich kids had iphones
2017 - Every kid has a smartphone and won't stop playing with it.
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3points
#59
I've taught in Universities in all three years (grad school, as an instructor, and now short courses as affiliate research faculty). Different universities, so the data is likely confounded:
1997: Why are you so young? What could you possibly teach us we don't already know?
2007: Everything is going to be great, and I'm sure the President knows what he's doing overseas.
2017: Holy shit, we're so f*cked.
1997: Why are you so young? What could you possibly teach us we don't already know?
2007: Everything is going to be great, and I'm sure the President knows what he's doing overseas.
2017: Holy shit, we're so f*cked.
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3points
#60
1997 students: Can write an essay or research paper with multiple sources including web, journal, and book sources. Struggle through problems for long periods of time seeking multiple sources to aid in problem solving. Ask questions.
2007 students: Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions making sure they understand every little detail before moving forward. Tend to get locked up if a solution doesn't present itself over sometime. Main sources are web based.
2017 students: Very little questions. Multiple false starts with little attention to detail or care of mistakes. No outside sources beyond web. When problems are difficult and require multiple steps problem is skipped.
2007 students: Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions making sure they understand every little detail before moving forward. Tend to get locked up if a solution doesn't present itself over sometime. Main sources are web based.
2017 students: Very little questions. Multiple false starts with little attention to detail or care of mistakes. No outside sources beyond web. When problems are difficult and require multiple steps problem is skipped.
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3points