A recent three year Israeli study tracked factors affecting teachers and their views on information and communication technologies (ICT) in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade classrooms. Despite the rampant use of technology at home and its presence in the classroom, the study determined that classroom technology, though available, is largely underutilized. Instead of transforming teaching methodologies to enhance learning, ICT is used to make existing methodologies more efficient[i] i.e., Power Point presentations in lieu of transparencies, Excel spreadsheets in lieu of grade books.
While a teacher might have ample opportunity for mastery and purpose, autonomy in the classroom is limited by the norms and regulations imposed on the teacher by the school, the district, the teacher’s union, etc. These institutional road blocks impede the intrinsic motivation that should normally drive a teacher to innovate new ways of teaching. “The use of ICT in the classroom is an innovation not only in technological terms but from the point of view of teaching as well. [Teachers] must learn to use technology and they must fundamentally change how they teach”[i]. Without full autonomy, teachers are less motivated and able to make that change.
This same phenomenon was satirically presented on Saturday Night Live during the 2008 U.S. Presidential election cycle. In a “Weekend Update” sketch, comedian Fred Armisen uses a giant interactive touch screen monitor to provide updates on the election. In the sketch, Armisen isn’t quite sure how to put the new technology to good use and his update is limited to zooming in to various cities, then zooming out. Seth Meyers, who plays the host of the fictional newscast, accuses Armisen of wasting time while playing with a new electronic “toy”. Armisen angrily rearranges all the states in frustration. The sketch is hilarious, mostly because it does such a great job of mimicking what so much of the election coverage actually looked like. News commentators didn’t change how they reported, they simply added a bit of technological glitz to the same antiquated methodology. In the HR training video, this is exactly how the Millennial appeared to the Traditionalist: an inexperienced newbie playing with some new electronic toys instead of getting real work done.
The HR video, the classroom study, and the election coverage all demonstrate the same challenge. Cutting edge technology is providing the potential to change the way we live, but people and Draconian IT policies are getting in the way. Technology management guru Clayton Christensen characterizes this dilemma as disruptive innovation. Disruptive innovations initially offer “poorer performance along the dimension that existing customers [care] the most about”[ii]. There is a tremendous human factor associated with understanding the potential of disruptive technology and how to use it to innovate.
Technology advances are driving a total transformation of what places of work look like and thus the characteristics of the work accomplished within them. Generational differences amplify the effect of these advances. The proliferation of mobile communication technology and social networking tools means a workplace can be anywhere. Workforces can now be more mobile and are increasingly becoming more virtual. It is no longer necessary for professionals to sit in Dilbert-style cubicle farms plugging away for 8 hours a day. Today’s professional can be anywhere, anytime. And yet, in many companies they are not, because managers choose to motivate through their value system, not yours[iii].
[i] Levin, T., & Wadmany, R. (2008). Teachers' Views on Factors Affecting Effective Integration of Information Technology in the Classroom: Developmental Scenery. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education , 233-263.
[ii] Christensen, C. M., Anthony, S. D., & Roth, E. A. (2004). Seeing What's Next. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
[iii] Graham, M. L. (2009, April). Leveraging the Power of Cross-Generational Teams. Anaheim, CA, United States of America.