Justin Skea is Head of St Cyprian's Preparatory School

The generational divide which exists today between parents and their children is an intriguing one. The truth is that the generational divide has existed for, well, for as long as there were children and adults, however it is today’s society which is perhaps witnessing one of the greatest generational divides in history, and the rapid development in technology is partly responsible for this divide.

In case you don’t know, four generations have been identified from 1946 to the present day. The Baby Boom Generation refers to those born between 1946 and 1964, Generation X represents those born between 1965 and 1976, the Net Generation for those born between 1977 and 1997, and Generation Next is occupied by those born from 1998. With each generation exposed to different trends, national policies and global events, it is no surprise that each one is unique and quite different from other generations.

Most of you, as parents, will fall into either the Baby Boom Generation or Generation X. You’ll know the Baby Boomers and Generation Xers , because we’re the ones who, when we had to do a school project, accessed our information from Encyclopaedia Britannica and National Geographic. Cut and paste meant we cut out pictures and pasted them on paper! Some of us still quiver when we think of the blandness of the “Peter and Jane” books we had to read! These are the generations where children were largely meant to be seen, but not heard, and this was the approach adopted in most schools and classrooms of the time. We crowded around the radio to listen to the latest series, and then... the television arrived. For months we watched that test pattern, and the countdown to the first SABC broadcast. Soon, television replaced most other forms of entertainment, and we were gripped. For the Xers, in particular, this is the generation for whom C.H.I.P.s, the A-Team, Macgyver, Knight Rider and Air Wolf mean something. Magnum P.I. was cool and life revolved around Dallas on Tuesday nights (Do yourself a favour and watch the SABC re-runs of our 80s classics, and you’ll be amazed at what entertained us!).

For Boomers and Xers, these were times when kids played in trees, gardens were large and pinball and, later, ‘Asteroids’, ‘Pacman’ and ‘Space Invaders’ became part of cutting edge technology! While the Baby Boomers were enthralled by television as it turned youth itself into an event, Generation X was different and tended to feel a little excluded from society and its opportunities, and worked its way to becoming the best-educated group in history. This is a generation of aggressive communicators with strong media savvy, and represents the oldest segment of the population whose I.T. knowledge and habits resemble those of the Net Geners and Gen Nexters.

So, are we really then so different to the children we parent and teach? After all, most of us are pretty handy on a computer, and some of us are real experts. The answer however is a most definite yes. We are very different because while we may be able to master the intricacies of computers, and other I.T. gadgets, we just simply do not think or view the world the same way as they do. I’m sure most of you will relate to how technology and its application is almost hard-wired into our children’s DNA. They don’t need the instructions for the new device like we do! Instead, they get onto it, experiment, try out and find solutions. Then, they teach us how to use it. A recent example of this took place with Ms Clarke’s Grade 5s. With a little trepidation, she introduced them to Windows 8. By the end of the lesson, not only had they mastered the basics, but they were finding shortcuts and features which they then taught Ms Clarke!

In his book, ‘Grown Up Digital’ by Don Tapscott, he identifies 8 of the norms that characterise the Net Generation and Generation Next, and which, as a result, show us the differences that exist. I am hoping that by discussing these 8 norms you might be better able to understand what makes your child ‘tick’, and better appreciate the world that they live in, and the world they see, and also get some insight into why conflict may arise. In so doing, I am hoping that this may help you in your parenting, as you will see that these norms are central to understanding how these generations are changing the way we view work, learning, the family and society. For us, as teachers, we are faced with similar challenges to teach a generation in such a way that they are inspired, motivated and challenged. Quite simply, we must teach in a world in which many of us are quite unfamiliar.

The 8 norms or characteristics of the Net Generation and Generation Next are:
  1. They want freedom in everything they do, from freedom of choice to freedom of expression. Choice is like oxygen to them, and while we may feel overwhelmed by all the choices that face us, even when buying something like a cell phone, they thrive on it. They wish to choose where and when they work, and will integrate technology with their work, social and home lives seamlessly. They seek the freedom to take their own paths and express themselves.
  2. They love to customise and personalise. This is a generation that has a world of options at their fingertips. No longer do they have the choice of TV1, TV2 and TV3, with Mnet “Open Time” between 5 and 7pm (Remember those days?). No, this is a generation who can select the specific programmes they want to watch, pause live TV and even rewind it. But more than that, they can change the entire media world around them – their desktop, ring tone, screen saver and entertainment. They are used to getting the exact entertainment they want at the exact time that they want it.
  3. They are the new scrutinizers. They don’t buy the marketing hype of some companies. Instead they will access as much consumer research as they can find on the web. They scrutinize products, promotional efforts and corporate practices, because they know that they get what they want if they do that. Don’t expect them to simply buy any product. They will research, speak to others and get the full picture before buying it, especially if it has to do with technology.
  4. They look for corporate integrity and openness when deciding what to buy. Net Geners particularly make sure that a company’s values are in line with their own. While this applies to buying products, over the next few years you will see this becoming even more evident when they enter the workforce. They will only work for a company that sits right them!
  5. They want entertainment and play in their work, education and social life. They bring a playful mentality to work and school. They understand that there is more than one way to achieve the same goal, and this makes them very effective lateral, ‘out-the-box’ thinkers.
  6. They are the collaboration and relationship generation. Today, youth collaborate on Facebook, Twitter, BBM amongst other applications. Watch tweens and teenagers; given half the chance and you will see them texting, tweeting, BBMing or Facebooking (the fact that these words have become acceptable verbs in our vocabulary bears testimony to the pervasiveness of technology in every aspect of our lives). They share their likes, dislikes, fears and aspirations, and in so doing influence one another in what they believe, what they buy and how they look.
  7. They have a need for speed. They cannot relate to a world where people used to use snail mail to communicate. They are used to real-time chats with a database of contacts. This is a world of rapid communication. The result is that communication with friends, colleagues and superiors takes place faster than ever. Furthermore, they expect their instant message to be met with an instant response!
  8. They are the innovators. This generation is always looking for the ‘next best thing’. Technology is in hyperdrive, and they want to stay in the forefront of it. They also innovate by making things simpler, and as Einstein said, “Simplicity is the greatest sophistication.”