Congratulations on your foray into continued education. If it’s any consolation, I was kind of a weirdo when I went to college 20 years ago — I acted just like you. It made me ‘different.’ I had only a handful of friends (because I often worked weekends, didn’t have money for partying, and because I was into my studies). Since my professors were not shy about telling me their frustrations with ‘kids these days,’ I don’t think what you’re talking about is a new phenomenon. The technology assisted note taking is new (and as you point out ineffective). But the rest might just be old. I wonder if it wouldn’t be better for all of us to have a chance to work and be independent for a bit before we decide to go to school — you learn more when what you’re learning feels relevant. And it really does when you’ve had a chance to live a while…I’ll have to remember this for my kids. Of course, the knee-jerk desire is to be able to make sure I can pay for school when it’s time for their studies…but there is something about participating in real life first that is very enriching.
