Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Do They Really Think Differently? EDUC 4306.02 – Dr. Dawn Wilson

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach. –Marc Prensky Different kinds of experiences lead to different brain structures. –Dr. Bruce D. Perry, Baylor College of Medicine

The Past.

Digital Immigrants Not born into the digital world, but have since adjusted to current technology Use the internet and technologies as a second content source Learn step by step; teach step by step Old New Digital Immigrants

http://scienceblogs.com/clock/past-present-future.jpg Times have changed. ... 1900, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2009, …

The Current. What the heck is Grandma doing?!?!

Digital Natives Technology grown individuals (21st century children) Use the internet and technologies as their primary content source Learn through interaction; can we teach them? 5,000 hours of reading 10,000 hours of video games 10,000 hours of using cell phones (text messages included) 20,000 hours of television

Do They Really Think Differently?! According to Marc Prensky: Neuroplasticity occurs throughout life People with different inputs think differently As musicians’ brains are physically different – it is very possible that Digital Natives’ brains are also wired differently Digital Natives have “hypertext minds” http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2623572.htm

Article 1: Simulations, Games, and Learning According to Diana Oblinger: Promotes active learning either real or simulated Requires personal goals and decision making Involves adaptation and working well with others Creates stronger logic and social skills Mastery of knowledge and strategic skills Connections to Learning include: SOCIAL RESEARCH PROBLEM SOLVING TRANSFER EXPERIENTIAL

Article 2: Changing Brains? According to Gary Small, M.D.: More time in one activity = stronger pathways for executing that activity Musicians, Athletes Internet increases brain’s capacity to be stimulated Greater working memory, better at perceptual learning, and better motor skills http://www.drgarysmall.com/images/cover_iBrain_1.jpg Gary Small, M.D. Director of the UCLA Memory & Aging Research Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior.

Article 2 (cont): Thinking Differently… Gary Small M.D. says: Digital Natives make “snap decisions” Can “juggle multiple sources of sensory input” Digital Immigrant’s brain is trained differently to socialize and learn Address individual things one at a time Step-by-step process

Pros of Technology If a “digital native” thinks in a different way… shouldn’t the classroom teach in a different manner as well? Provides independent learning Curriculum available outside the classroom Stimulates different learning (auditory, visual) Facilitates different learning (kinesthetic) Prepares students for today’s world

Cons of Technology

Cons of Technology

Meaningful Learning with Technology According to David Jonassen: “Thinking is enhanced when learning with technology, not from it.” Technologies are tools that engage students in deeper levels of thinking and reasoning, including causal, analogical, expressive, experiential, and problem solving.

Virtual Classroom. http://www.jvkco.net/mrb/technology/classroom.html

References Interlandi, Jeneen. “Reading This Will Change Your Brain.” Newsweek 14 Oct. 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2009, from http://www.newsweek.com/id/163924. Jonassen, D. H. (2000). Computers as mindtools for schools: Engaging critical thinking. Columbus, OH: Prentice-Hall. Prensky, M. (2001a, September/October). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1-6. Retrieved September 14, 2009, from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf. Prensky, M. (2001b, November/December). Digital natives, digital immigrants, part II: Do they really think differently? On the Horizon, 9(6), 1-6. Retrieved September 14, 2009, from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part2.pdf. Oblinger, Diana. (2006, May). “Simulations, Games, and Learning.” Retrieved September 14, 2009, from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3004.pdf.