What the ‘Betamax generation’ can teach the ‘snowflake generation’!

We all love to assign a label to one another; part of the human condition and none more so than in education! From Betamax to snowflake. Translated into those of us born in the 1970’s (I am not giving anything away here!) and those born in the 2000’s. Sony released their first Betamax machines in 1975 and used cassette tapes that used a 0.50-inch wide tape inside; “hand-sized” for easier use. Since that time period technology has truly exploded and as we are all only too aware often the newest pieces that we happily use are obsolete in a minute. But we as the ‘Betamax’ generation have lived through the most enormous change in technological history. Our ability to manage change, think rationally, work with our own knowledge and resources, know how to navigate retrieving resources and of developing a process is second to none.

What then can we, the ‘Betamax generation’ teach our students; the ‘Millennials’, ‘Generation Z’, the ‘Snowflake generation’?

Students today, born post 2000 are a cohort that has been stereotyped as too fragile for challenging literature, surviving being challenged themselves, too self-involved to think about anything beyond their own insular world and too self-obsessed to face the hard truths that the real world can present. A less resilient group than any other at any time during history.

Maybe this is true and maybe a tad extreme? Whatever your opinion it is clear that we have 2 opposing groups: but rather than think about what one can teach the other, is it not best to think about what each can teach the other?

Being culturally, aware to the surroundings we find ourselves in and knowing the social cues for how to behave is a lesson best learnt from the ‘snowflakes’. They have grown up with the globe in their hands. Watching, reading and interacting with a variety of bloggers, vloggers, influencers, sound bites, podcasts, snapchats, Instagram and WhatsApp, to name but a few from outside of their worlds and remits. They know and understand issues and debates, quicker than any other generation EVER. They assimilate, repost, use, comment, connect and filter. Their research skills are finely tuned, and they are well aware of trends and the myriad of solutions to the numerous world problems that present themselves through our global media. These skills need to be honed, used productively and in tandem their exposure to the world wide web protected and guarded to ensure that all is age appropriate and safe.

It is time for schools to allow the student to teach the teacher. Through controlled projects, interactive lessons and debates and idea sharing opportunities.

The teachers can share with their students their understanding of patience and accepting that there can be and is a slower rhythm to life. Taking time to ponder on a reference book to find out more about chemical reactions or the Iberian Peninsula. Making sure that the novel is finished before the Netflix TV series is started and having the patience to look at a road map rather than relying on google.

Inter-generational knowledge sharing has been undertaken for centuries and we need to ensure this continues. No one generation is better or worse than the other. We just have different things to share.

Article written by

Nav IQ

Executive Principal