The Prensky Challenge

I couldn't disagree more with the entire premise of the Prensky Challenge. I almost find the article idealistic and controversial to the point that I question whether he was even serious in writing it, or rather just attempting to promote a healthy dialogue.

The reason that students do not achieve at a higher level (by whatever measure you choose to use) can be summarized in a single word: apathy. While this is certainly not a 21st century development, student apathy has increased due to technology, economics, and the media. Students feel empowered by outlets such as YouTube, cell phones, MySpace, and blogging to feel a false sense of maturity, safety, and wisdom. They have it all figured it out. And if they run into trouble along the way, they can always seek help through our advanced information and communication systems. What could they possibly have to learn in a classroom? What skills do they not already possess, that can't be downloaded or googled, that will help them in the future?

By the way, what ever happened to hard work being its own reward? Are times so desparate that we need to resort to these measures in order to motivate students? I certainly hope the answer is no. I doubt we are so enlightened as to feel confident in the premise that our underachieving students only lack the extrinsic motivation to succeed. Have we forgotten that children, by their very nature, become quickly accustomed to such rewards, accomodations, and concessions. Before long, they have a funny way of morphing into entitlements, things that they deserve, and not because they earned them. Then where will we be?

Part of growing up is learning to complete a task to the best of one's ability, whether you like it or not. Not everything that we as adults do is because there will be a positive reward at its conclusion. Rather, I would submit that many of the things we work for are rooted in a fear of losing something. I could give a child a new toy every time he puts his old toys away, but what lesson has he learned then?