A recent Associated Press article caught my attention. The focus was on the newest generation of students, and its working thesis was that although they are experts at computer technology, they have no ability or wish to use older, manual technology.

Students could not figure out how to empty plastic ice cube trays, and if a can did not have a pull tab, they just didn’t bother to open it, let alone try to operate a can opener.

I have taught nursing students at Grand View University for 28 years and have seen changes in thinking and learning styles throughout that time. This fall, however, was a turning point. More than half of the students in my beginning nursing course were born in 1990. The rest of the students are non-traditional, many of them in second careers.

My classroom is equipped with the latest technology, which I find useful but occasionally frustrating as I try to coordinate the PC with the CD-ROMs, the Elmo (electronic mail operator) and the LCD projector. My newest generation of students already has the lights dimmed before I have the sound figured out and are calling out for me to “click on the tab in the corner.”

Recently the class was studying how culture affects the health-care delivery system. I divided the class into two groups, with the young ones gathering together in one classroom and the non-traditional students in the other classroom for an activity that simulated two very different cultures. The technology included listening to a cassette tape about a particular culture.

The non-traditional group got started immediately on the task, but the young group just stared at the tape and its accompanying player. “What is this?” one of the students exclaimed. “Put the tape in and push the play button,” I said. The student figured out how to open the door but then tried to jam the tape in. “You have to turn it upside down,” I said. “OK, now it is in; what do I do since it won’t play?” “Push the rewind button.” It took the whole group to finally get the tape to play. The last comment: “Look how the tape goes around.”

OK, I am starting to understand that this generation really is very different from previous students. A second example came up recently. The class was planning a community service project that involved large numbers of nursing students dancing together. They planned to videotape it from a second-floor area. Non-traditional student: “Let’s make sure we use walkie-talkies to coordinate the event.” “Yes, good idea,” I said. Traditional student: “How about we just use our cell phones?”

We all laughed, but the conclusion is that the new generation doesn’t know how to use old technology and the older generations fumble with new technology. We need to keep learning from one another.

But if I see those cell phones out on your desk or see you texting in class, access to technology will be terminated immediately.

Jean Logan is a professor of nursing at Grand View University.