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Digital Natives


Digital Natives are "native speakers of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet" (Prensky 2001). Those who did not grow up in the digital world but who adapt to new technology are known as Digital Immigrants. After browsing through this week's readings for class I understand that some people that think these terms are myths. However, I think growing up in the digital age definitely influences the thinking and learning of students. My parents are digital immigrants and they fit the definition of digital immigrants as presented in the Prensky article from this week. They prefer to talk in person, focus on one task at a time, print out things such as directions, etc. While I grew up as a digital native, I wouldn't say I'm particularly always attached to a device. I still prefer to print out chapters at work that I need to edit and I'm not very good at multitasking. Even though I do not fit in with other digital natives, growing up in the digital world has influenced the way I learn. I prefer faster paced instruction and I'd much rather learn from an interactive website than a textbook. 


Digital immigrants don't believe students can learn while watching tv or listening to music because they didn't grow up learning this way. I tend to agree with this thinking even though I'm a digital native. While people may be able to learn while multitasking, I don't think it's particularly efficient. What they are doing instead is task switching. The Kirschner and De Bruyckere article from this week's reading does a good job of explaining that learners cannot multitask; they switch between tasks which negatively impacts learning. While many digital natives think they are good a multitasking, they really are just spending more time on each task and would be better off focusing on one thing at a time. 

I think digital natives and digital immigrants have some validity in their definitions but I also see why there are people who push back about the nomenclature. What do you think?

Comments

  1. Danielle DavisMay 23, 2020 at 2:20 PM

    Hi Leah. When I read the definitions of those terms I was fighting internally, because it seemed like such an easy metaphor to cast boundaries on the our technological lives. I am a younger millennial and I believe its about time that we delve into how age plays a part in our online lives. But I wonder if there was a more nuanced way to discuss the generational divide that doesn't constrict the identities of online users to "native vs immigrant" or "young vs old" to get at a person's online presence and efficiency.

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  2. BDeviesMay 24, 2020 at 8:04 PM

    I like that you showed the complexity of not just being able to box people into these terms. Being born in a certain time period can mean you grow up with technology around you but not that you feel the need to always be "plugged in." I am with you on the hard copies/printed materials - I still buy all my textbooks in hard copy and like giving written feedback. I have found different ways to dial into Web 2.0 engagement while also still respecting my preferences in how I engage and learn.

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