Digital Natives, as Marc Prensky suggests are considered highly skilled or at least highly exposed to technology, whereas Digital Immigrants lag behind the tech-savvy natives. Prensky suggests that the digitals catch up with the natives and begin using game-based learning in the classroom to elevate boring, unproductive, outdated teaching. Since natives are accustomed to playing an obscene amount of video games, television, and social media they are not able to connect to the typical classroom. I've never heard of these terms however I have heard of digital divide and inequality and they somewhat remind me of these terms, whereas, digital inequality refers to as having the technology but not knowing how to use it...immigrants and divide are not having the resources...natives.
I remember Latin was a very popular class offered when I attended school. This language helped many students score higher on their SATs from learning 'root' words. Today, students learn vocabulary through reading computer-based learning games, such as Quizlet. I remember typing class taught students how to type fast to either help with writing papers or get a secretarial job after high school, however, today typing is picked up solely from using a computer. When this paper was written, back in 2001 maybe teachers believed that the brain was massively plastic, but today many believe in neuroplasticity and believe 'effort' over intelligence plays a vital role in learning.
Reeves concluded in 2006 that generational differences do not matter when it comes to instructional design, however, different learning styles do impact instructional design. Today, many teachers/facilitators believe in blended learning and do see technology as a vital part of differentiated learning. Technology assists many different learners (auditory, visually, kinesthetic, logical, intrapersonal, and sometimes verbal and interpersonal. Many teachers see technology as a vital part of their classroom they also see the importance of social learning and in many cases direct instruction (especially for the primary eligible students). Technology reinforces many skills through game-based learning and my students use First in Math and Edmentum to reinforce learning.
So whether your classroom is filled with natives, immigrants, eligible students, or any variety of learning style I think the best fit is a blended classroom! What are your thoughts?
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants – Part II: Do they really think differently? On the Horizon, 9 (6). Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
McKenzie, J. (2007). Digital nativism: Digital delusions and digital deprivation. From Now On, 17(2). Retrieved from http://fno.org/nov07/nativism.html
Reeves, T.C. (2008, January 22-25). Do generational differences matter in instructional design? Online discussion presentation to Instructional Technology Forum. Retrieved from https://paeaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/10c-Gen-Diff-Matter.pdf
