Future Shock: Class of 2014 – See how this post-email generation shapes the future

In the movie When Harry met Sally, Harry talked about a much younger woman that he had been dating. Harry was trying to make conversation and asked her, “Where were you when Kennedy was assassinated?” The young woman looked back at him and said, “Ted Kennedy was assassinated?”

A generation used to be defined as 20 years. In today's world, a generation can be as few as four years. That means that a brother and a sister born four years apart share an entirely different experience of growing up and learning the world.

For the last twelve years, Beloit College has published its Beloit College Mindset list which defines cultural touchpoints that have shaped the lives of students that will be entering college this fall.

Check the link below to see the actual list. But here were a few that really caught my eye.

1. When you tap on your wrist to nonverbally ask someone for the time, don't expect the class of 2014 to understand. They don't wear wrist watches. The current time is posted on their mobile phone that is always with them.

2. They don't write in cursive.

3. They consider e-mail to slow, and snail mail and artifact of Jurassic Park.

4. The term "go West, young man" doesn't stop at California. Now it's young man and young woman. And West is West enough until you hit Asia.

5. They have hundreds of cable channels, but can't find anything to watch.

6. They have never seen a carousel of Kodachrome slides.

7. Their first computer, probably an Apple II, is now in a museum.

Enjoy!

http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2014.php

Jaclyn Kostner, Ph.D., Bridge the Distance, http://www.distance.com/