If you are reading this blog, you probably at least speak the ‘digital native language’. A digital native is someone who grew up in the digital age surrounded by digital technology, whereas a digital immigrant came upon digital technology later in life. These terms were coined by Marc Prensky, an author and game designer in the areas of education and learning. He argues that today’s learners are different and that this difference has serious implications for education. Further, he states “today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach”. His classic article Digital Native, Digital Immigrants is from 2001, but I think it is still relevant today.
Do you think these terms are accurate? Should there be another category, such as assimilated digital immigrant? Do you think this concept is just part of the generation gap? Or is it something more?
Do you think these terms are accurate? Should there be another category, such as assimilated digital immigrant? Do you think this concept is just part of the generation gap? Or is it something more?
At the last AACP meeting in San Antonio, I talked with several members who expressed surprise at how little some of the "digital natives" actually know about technology in the abstract.
ReplyDeleteThis may be an issue of theoretical understanding versus understanding through usage. Those of us in the SIG who work with technology on a regular basis understand the underlying principles and can extrapolate that knowledge to new situations. I think that for a lot of students, using technology is more like using an appliance. They learn enough to make their cell phones and laptops do what they want, but not enough to handle new situations that arise.
Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting distinction. I have heard similar comments that 'natives' use and view technology as entertainment or something for consumption, rather than as a tool. Do you think a lack of theoretical understanding is a result of this viewpoint?