The Net Generation Debate: Unpacking Individual Perceptions and Lived Experiences toward Technology Use in Education

This study aims to examine individual perceptions and lived experiences of the Net generation of student teachers and the previous generation of teachers about their technology use in education. The participants of this study include 106 pre-service teachers and 50 in-service teachers from one teacher education university in Korea. Employing a mixed methodology, we first empirically examined the participants' perceptions toward multiple variables related to technology use in education, namely (a) past ICT experiences in schools, (b) personal computer use, (c) constructivist belief, (d) computer efficacy, (e) attitude toward computer in education, and (f) prospective computer use. In addition, we conducted face-to-face interviews with selected participants for the in-depth investigation of their lived experiences about technology use, beliefs, and attitude. Results indicate that there are significant differences between in-service and pre-service teachers in their prior experiences with technology in schools. However, the pre-service and in-service teachers did not differ significantly in their beliefs, attitude and other technology-related variables, which may indicate the danger of generational determinism in the Net Generation debate. The analysis of interview narratives revealed two major themes about the interplay of one's agency and structural changes in the participants' lived experiences with technology use in education: (a) transition from negative past experiences to opportunities for positive computer use, and (b) attitudes formation and change through apprenticeship experiences and structural influences. In conclusion, this study suggests that the Net Generation debate should move beyond dichotomous or techno-centric thinking. There is a critical need to pay more attention to develop deeper understandings of the fundamental diversity existing within the generation itself. Implications for teacher education are also discussed.