Technology & Young Professionals

An observation from Nora Johnson, YP IAEE (Secretary):

Just this morning, I was reading a recap of perspectives and
discussion topics brought up at Expo! Expo! Two documents were sent
my way, including a recap from this year and the recap from last
year. In both, there is a glaring similarity where the younger
generations were discussed: the inevitable connection of younger
generations and newer technologies.

Granted, younger generations are using newer technology, and they are
doing so more easily and efficiently than others. However, this has
always been and will always be the case, from the time that fire and
steam engines became the way of the day to the first transition from
typewriters to computers.

One of the challenges we will face as a committee is to get people to
see beyond the technology. Why are younger professionals using
technology? How, when and where are they using it? Technology is a
tool. What the younger generations consider “valuable” extends beyond
the tools.

Example. As a committee, we’ve already touched on this by looking at
the need to change the “speaking-head” format of session programming.
Some may be quick to say that we need blogs and live polling – via
technology offerings or text messages. We need to get people past
that. We need to have people look at what is no longer favorable
about the past structure and what can be changed based on those
findings. It may be seating arrangements, the length of the sessions,
the depth (not breadth) of information covered, etc.

If we only stop at technology, our industry will miss the boat. This
is more an opinionated-musing/blog/post. Please let me know if this
is what we are okay with as a committee, or if we’re looking to keep
this forum business-task oriented around our meetings. Either way
works for me.

Thank you,
Nora