What is a digital native? A digital immigrant? In his article, Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1,
Marc Prensky identifies the new generation of students as "native
speakers" of the digital language of computers, video games, and the
internet. Prensky labels those of us who were not born into the digital
world but have dabbled in it as digital immigrants. His article explains
that teachers, as digital immigrants, have to adjust in order to teach their
digital native students.
This is not the first time I have heard of the digital immigrant vs. digital native argument, as a teacher of mostly K-3 graders I am significantly more advanced in years. My students were born in a different time, things have certainly changed since I was a Kindergartner. Students are now required to use technology at younger ages. Often times we assume they come to us with knowledge of technology and computers that they don't have. Yes, they maybe be digital natives but that doesn't make them digitally literate.
In the circle of engineers and programmers that make up my social circle, I am an anomaly: the Luddite. Using technology is harder for me. It's not a natural acquisition as it is for many of my friends. I prefer soft science to the hard science they dabble in. I am quite content with the basics; no upgrades required. I am a digital immigrant. However, I am a proficient one.
Learning to use new technology can at times frustrate me. My printer for example is my arch nemesis. No matter how many times I try to print from my laptop to the printer via the wireless, I fail. But I don't stop trying. Compared to many of my teaching colleagues I am a whiz. My classroom has a blog, I listen to podcasts, I have used VoiceThread, iPads, Chromebooks on a regular basis, and I have a decent understanding of html. But when it comes to using social media, I fall behind. Could I use it? Sure. Does it interest me the way it does my high schoolers or even peers 5 years younger than myself? No. Is technology frustrating? Sometimes. Absolutely. But so are a lot of things.
Like many other districts, my own district is struggling with determining what curriculum would be best to meet the needs of our students in terms of technology. There are three components that we are considering: keyboarding skills, fundamentals (components of a computer, browsing, logging in/out), and digital citizenship. Some of the things I have noticed with my own students is their inability to use a mouse, their belief that all screens are touch screens, and the inability to type using two hands and all of their fingers. So though they may be digital natives they are by no means fluent ones.
In conclusion, whether you identify as a digital native or as an immigrant, you still have a lot to learn. Technological advances aren't slowing down. New apps and interfaces are created every day. Updates and upgrades are a part of daily life and I don't foresee it slowing down anytime soon. But we have to also keep in mind that using technology doesn't have to be so difficult. After all even cats can do it!
This is not the first time I have heard of the digital immigrant vs. digital native argument, as a teacher of mostly K-3 graders I am significantly more advanced in years. My students were born in a different time, things have certainly changed since I was a Kindergartner. Students are now required to use technology at younger ages. Often times we assume they come to us with knowledge of technology and computers that they don't have. Yes, they maybe be digital natives but that doesn't make them digitally literate.
In the circle of engineers and programmers that make up my social circle, I am an anomaly: the Luddite. Using technology is harder for me. It's not a natural acquisition as it is for many of my friends. I prefer soft science to the hard science they dabble in. I am quite content with the basics; no upgrades required. I am a digital immigrant. However, I am a proficient one.
Learning to use new technology can at times frustrate me. My printer for example is my arch nemesis. No matter how many times I try to print from my laptop to the printer via the wireless, I fail. But I don't stop trying. Compared to many of my teaching colleagues I am a whiz. My classroom has a blog, I listen to podcasts, I have used VoiceThread, iPads, Chromebooks on a regular basis, and I have a decent understanding of html. But when it comes to using social media, I fall behind. Could I use it? Sure. Does it interest me the way it does my high schoolers or even peers 5 years younger than myself? No. Is technology frustrating? Sometimes. Absolutely. But so are a lot of things.
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| Working with "digital natives" in China |
PBS's Idea Channel tries to answer the question: Do Digital Natives Exist?I n this video, the narrator describes how being a digital native is often linked with age, stating those born after 1980 are automatically digital natives and those born before 1980 are the digital immigrants, making it more a generational stigma than anything else. I have to agree with the narrator on this when he questions the idea that, "there is something automatic about someone's technological expertise if they are below a certain age." Many of (ok let's be honest) ALL of my students are born after the 1980 mark. Many are post-2010 babies. But there is a lot missing in their knowledge of computer use and digital citizenship. (I often think of this delightful video of two siblings trying to figure out a cassette tape.)
Like many other districts, my own district is struggling with determining what curriculum would be best to meet the needs of our students in terms of technology. There are three components that we are considering: keyboarding skills, fundamentals (components of a computer, browsing, logging in/out), and digital citizenship. Some of the things I have noticed with my own students is their inability to use a mouse, their belief that all screens are touch screens, and the inability to type using two hands and all of their fingers. So though they may be digital natives they are by no means fluent ones.
In conclusion, whether you identify as a digital native or as an immigrant, you still have a lot to learn. Technological advances aren't slowing down. New apps and interfaces are created every day. Updates and upgrades are a part of daily life and I don't foresee it slowing down anytime soon. But we have to also keep in mind that using technology doesn't have to be so difficult. After all even cats can do it!
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| Image Not Mine |
There is definitely a difference between digital nativism and digital literacy and I think that many people do not drawn that distinction. They think that because someone is a digital native they can use technology in the correct way for the correct purpose. They forget the role of the teacher in the equation. Where would we be with Prensky?
ReplyDeletePrensky views the teacher as needing to understand where the student is coming from, to update our practice, philosophy, and methodology to meet the students where they are rather then forcing them to meet us where we are. I think Prensky has high expectations for teachers. (not a bad thing)
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