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catch up with the natives and begin using game-based learning in the classroom to elevate boring, unproductive, outdated teaching.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
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I appreciate that you bring up that the article was published in 2001. I would love to look at more research from the past few years to see how perceptions of technology ability and access have changed. Inequities in technology is a huge topic, and is something we need to explore even more!
ReplyDeleteI think the publishing date of 2001 is interesting too. I remember back then that the "digital immigrants" that I knew were very reluctant to learn how to use some of the newer technologies. Now those same people use technology everyday and couldn't live without it. I think there has been a big change between 2001 and now. I would be interested to see some more current research as well.
DeleteWe use Quizlet for vocabulary also. I also have my students work for a bit on typing each week through typing.com. It's a game based typing program. Our students are expected to complete our annual state testing online and all of their answers are typed. I try and give them some extra practice since it's and expected skill. Some students are great typers and some have very little exposure to it.
ReplyDeleteI agree. A blended classroom is the way to go!
I also use typing.com! My students love the game aspect. I have used it for the same reason as you because my students have to type on the state test.
DeleteI have been teaching technology for so long that it’s difficult for me to remember the last time the issue of generational differences came up in a classroom. I teach widely ranging age groups in a community college setting. My observations center around how the collaboration that I encourage mixes all ages. Everyone in the studio and the classroom helps to fill holes in individual knowledge base. The greater the disparity in age the richer the interactions. ‘Native’ or ‘immigrant’ issues are negligible if only at the extremes of age. I do observe that digital equality is far more pressing a concern than generational traits.
ReplyDeleteThe high school that I attended offered Spanish and French class, but they didn't offer Latin. Perhaps more students would've done good in the SAT, but it might be that not a lot of people thought of finishing high school or going to college in my area.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading Prensky's point of view. Even though his article was written in 2001, a lot of his points are valid today in my opinion. I do believe that whether you're a digital native or digital immigrant, you still have a lot to learn because technology changes daily, and technology does have a learning curve. Once you learn one tool, here comes another one, sometimes better than what you just learned.
ReplyDeleteSo true about keeping up with technology! Sometimes I think it can be a little overwhelming but then I realize all the good it brings!
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