Eavesdroppping--somewhat

I am sitting in a classroom at the Logansport campus, listening to my ENGL 112 students discuss technology, using essays from the back of the text as a springboard for their comments. I always select a moderator from the group to guide the discussion, for I like to talk too much and it is, well, just better this way!!

As I am listening, I thought about how different what we read now is from what we are reading in class. I am also thinking about how writing is different (actually one of the things they were supposed to discuss). I actually wonder what kind of literature students 50 years from now will be reading. Will they think that the writers of the 1800s are so antiquated that these short stories and novels will not be included in the curriculum? Which authors will they read from the early 2000s? What will they discuss about the style and the reflection of our time period?

Will they think that the spelling of words is strange, much as we do when we see labour or theatre? Will they need a dictionary (probably online) to check the meaning of words we consider commonplace? Already our children are questioning beta tapes, typewriters, record players,and light bulbs (do any of you remember those?). lol

I do know that I won't be teaching students 50 years from now. Some of you will still be here to witness the changes and tell your grandchildren "When I was in college, I took classes 'online which meant that all of the assignments were on the computer. We had Pronto discussions too and talked to each other through typing messages on the screen and reading what everyone else said." And your grandchildren will laugh at how old-fashioned that was.

Nearing the end of the class discussion. BBL.....