I understand and can relate to both the positives and negatives of Gen AO. As a parent I see the effects firsthand and it plays a part in the upbringing of our children. For them, as students, and the student-athletes that I interact with at work on a daily basis, it's a constant struggle to have them disconnect and stay focused on the task at hand. At home it's easier just because of the fact that Mom and Dad can easily step in and demand it. At work it's a little different, bad habits are harder to break.
In education, I see the positives as a great platform for fast, quick communication and information gathering from multiple sources. I also the see some of the negatives as decreased human interaction and distractions such as "mind-numbing" chatter for the task at hand.
It was stated that humans are experiencing a revolutionary era, and that many experts are calling for a reinvention of public education to teach those skills and help learners avoid some of the obvious pitfalls of a hyperconnected lifestyle. In order for Gen AO to be successful, the lessons of the positives and negatives/pitfalls need to taught. These lessons need to begin at home and reinforced in the classroom.
To reference the TV show, "Revolution", what will happen when the power goes out?