Article 1 - “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants” by Marc Prensky

Summary:
In the article titled “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants” by Marc Prensky, the author describes the difference between the generation of students who have grown up in our current technological age, and the generation that came into use of technology as adults. He uses the metaphor of a native and an immigrant, with the newer generation being Digital Natives, and the older generations being Digital Immigrants. He describes how Digital Immigrants may have learned to speak the “language” of a new country (by learning to use new technology) but that they may still have an “accent” (meaning they still show signs of not being 100% comfortable and familiar with technology like Digital Natives are). He also describes how Digital Natives’ brains may look and work differently than those of Digital Immigrants, and that teachers must address this difference in how they teach them. He recommends using technology in all forms of teaching, and instead of trying to get Digital Natives to learn in a way that will seem (and be) backwards to them, trying to get Digital Immigrants to move forward in their way of thinking.

Comments:
I love Prensky’s way of looking at the difference between the older generation’s use of and attitude towards technology, versus that of the newer generations. I’ve often thought the same way about it, that even when older people get used to technology, they never quite approach it the same way, and don’t apply it to as many aspects of daily life. Prensky not only makes use of a great metaphor, but he goes on to explain how the differences in the way the two groups think needs to have an effect on how the older generation teaches the younger generation. He gives some great examples of ways that education can be formatted to use technology, even in ways that some older educators might claim it can’t be used effectively. Since technology is only going to become more prevalent, Prensky’s assertion that it must be adapted to fit older styles of educating in order to keep students engaged is definitely a very important point for future educators to keep in mind!

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon (9). NCB University Press. Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing