Jesus J.
Diaz
October 17, 2012
AP English
Mr. Sudol
The claim that today’s generation of students is less efficacious than ever before is as
fallacious as it is illogical. In this age of technology, the advancement of the capability of
machine and student has gone hand in hand. Video games are proven to support the development
of the brain which develops into our twenties, affirming the positivity in increased video game
sales. The information spread by social media websites has largely contributed to a more
informed generation of young people in this nation on political matters. Through the medium of
school, students are effectually taking part in their communities; showing concern for affairs
outside of their own individual interests. These are testaments to the conclusion that students
have become more efficacious in recent years, rather than the contrary.
The appeal of video games to students has augmented as a result of the advancement of
technological capabilities. The use of a video game is unfairly dismissed as a waste of time,
when the game itself is an apparatus for brain training. A video game is designed to challenge the
player to the limits of their mental capabilities and beyond. Strategy based games increase the
ability to problem solve and reason, while action games support visual keenness. According to
www.defense.gov, video game users perform 10 to 20 percent better in visual and cognitive
ability. The ability to think beyond what you are comfortable with and solve problems is
certainly applicable to the classroom for students as well as in all walks of life.
Social media websites and applications such as Facebook and Twitter have granted students
access to information quicker and more abundantly than ever before. With access to knowledge
of the issues and events happening worldwide comes interest and participation in significant
aspects of society. The 2012 presidential election exemplifies how students can use social media
sources to participate in politics. According to www.lynn.edu, a survey was conducted at Lynn
University which concluded that 79 percent of students were likely to vote in November because
they follow a presidential candidate on Facebook or Twitter. In addition, 58 percent of these
students would cast their vote via smart phone if the option were available. In this case,
convenience is not to be mistaken for laziness. Technology allows for more to be accomplished
through the internet as smart phones get smarter and applications become more advanced.
Students have predominantly been the demographic that embraces innovation, which is why they
are so engulfed in the technology that the world has to offer today.
Schools are pressuring their students to go above and beyond themselves by taking part in
their community. Schools offer a variety of extracurricular activities for the purpose of having
their students spend their time productively. In many cases, the individual’s motive for joining a
club or doing community service may be to fluff their resume to appeal colleges and employers,
but the will to do this shows interest in one’s own future. The activities done in clubs and teams,
regardless of motive, are beneficial to the student’s growth or the community that they are
getting involved with. Channel 12 hosts a game show for students called “The Challenge,”
which, as the name implies, challenges a student’s universal knowledge, but at the same time
encourages them to service their school. Students can earn up to 10,000 dollars for their school
by participating in this game, while getting just 500 dollars for themselves. Success is based on
academic merit as well as dedication to the game itself and responsibility to the school.
The technology used by students today such as video games and social media sites, and
their contributions to society irrefutably prove that they are more capable and motivated than
ever before.
