Katie Amend Jerrod Bain Casey Moffett Nancy Nichols "The kids say they have to power down when they go to school. Their lives are powered up and the adults want to stop this. They think maybe they can do it with research or something, but it's like stopping rock 'n' roll when we were kids." Marc Prensky

Life in the fast lane as a Digital Native

Digital Natives are defined as those of this first generation to grow up with technology. Natives : refer to the internet for information first and foremost. multi-task and move in parallels. Hyper-text Need instant gratification and rewards Prefer graphics rather than text Prefer games to “work” Move at “twitch” speed Are never “unplugged”! Prensky (2001)

Digital Immigrants Digital immigrants are those not born into the digital generation and are struggling or slightly fascinated by the technology era. Immigrants: Have a foot in the past Turn to the internet as a secondary reference Read manuals when in doubt about technology rather than just the go and wing it method Speak in an outdated language Have little appreciation for natives and their skills Are the majority of our teaching population and struggling to keep up with the young digital natives that fill up our classrooms. Prensky (2001)

Neuroplasticity The idea that the brain constantly reorganizes itself during our lifespan Key thoughts: The brain changes and organizes itself differently based on the inputs it receives Brain changes physically based on stimulation Brain cells are replenished constantly Brain maintains its plasticity for life Prensky (2001)

Malleability mal ⋅ le ⋅ a ⋅ ble 1. capable of being extended or shaped by hammering or by pressure from rollers. 2. adaptable or tractable: the malleable mind of a child. Some factors influence what thoughts are about… others influence processes. People who grow up in different cultures do not think about different things… they think differently Brains do not reorganize casually- they rewire with focus and detail Digital Natives have a very different blend of cognitive skills than their predecessors Prensky (2001)

Merging Immigrants and Natives Digital Immigrants must first accept that Native learners are different and learn in a different way Immigrants must reconsider methodology and content Methodology: Immigrants must learn to “speak” the new language of Natives (faster, less step-by-step, more random access, etc.) Content: Combine “Legacy” (slow, step- by-step) and “Future” (digital and technological) content using new language Prensky (2001)

Implementing New Methodology and Content KEY: Keep them engaged and interested There should no longer be a question of whether to use the technology, but how to use the technology to teach the material Use Natives as resource- let students be the guides Invent games or other forms of “edutainment” to teach material Remove or reduce “education” terminology “It just depends on how it is presented” Zoo Tycoon Prensky (2001)

Pay attention! Are “natives” dozing off in class? Constant technological stimulation leads to… CRAVING interactive activity. Students are able to pay attention, however… they CHOOSE not to! Research from Sesame Street says that… children only tune into what they NEED to form meaning from the information. Prensky (2001)

Educational Implications Reflection allows us to generalize and make “mental models” from our experiences. –Missing in most classes Can educators– Increase reflection for students in a digital way? Teachers should embrace the idea of video and computer games because these meet and enhance learning needs. Prensky (2001)

Do games really work? YES most of them do!!! Proper design is paramount Learning as a game– weekend work! –Add a work day to the week! –Games must be… Compelling (interesting) Real (not drill) Presky (2001)

First year students’ experiences with technology: Are they really digital natives? First year students are tech-savvy, but when they have to move beyond computers, cell phones and their skill set varies Questions Prensky’s cultural and environmental assumptions in relation to the physically changing brain Article is skeptical of Prensky’s generalizations about students entering college with the same digital upbringing –Prensky may overlook this mixture of technology skills and previous knowledge –If this knowledge is taken into consideration, there is more opportunity for sound teaching and learning Kennedy (2008) et al

The Australian universities want to make sure that they enhance the learning experience of incoming students Students are using technology in their everyday lives and transferring that to their education… “living technologies” adapted as “learning technologies” –Blogs –Instant messaging –Texting –Social networking –RSS feeds –Downloading MP3’s Kennedy (2008) et al

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants: Some Thoughts from the Generation Gap Supports Prensky’s idea of the existence of a cultural divide between Natives and Immigrants Unconvinced of Prenky’s idea that the neurological structures are capable of changing so dramatically from one generation to the next Over generalizes idea of Digital Natives Necessary for Immigrants to learn and incorporate Internet into teaching because it is the first place Natives turn for info –But do not assume they are incapable of communicating in the way of Immigrants! Before we abandon “legacy” content, must address important questions: –Are all Natives exposed to technology to the same extent? –What are the demographic differences? VanSlyke (2003)

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants: Some Thoughts from the Generation Gap, Cont. Prenksy overemphasizes the differences between two groups and de-emphasizes similarities Disservice to Natives to de-emphasize “legacy” content (reading, writing, logical thinking, etc.) –Vast volumes of information from technology demand the ability to think critically and make use of research skills Computer is an effective trainer, but is it an effective teacher? –Important that we maintain idea that students should learn with technology, not from it –Computer is a medium, learner and teacher are the mediators Most important is to use engaging teaching methods that are student-centered and promote active learning, with or without technology VanSlyke (2003)

They’re here! Our students, new professionals, today’s generation have been coined as “Digital Natives and they are here to stay. Lee Rainie (2006)

Coming to an Office/School Near You! Younger employees/students need to learn and work with different expectations. Twenty-one year olds+ are technologically literate. Although they are content creators from blogs to broadcast, they are not as savvy with privacy and copyright. These multi-taskers live in a Venn Diagram where their worlds of work and leisure tend to cross over frequently. Online behaviors are often too causal often hedging on inappropriate. Lee Rainie (2006) Positives and Pitfalls to the Younger Workforce

Addressing Needs of Natives… Digital Natives –Surrounded since birth –Instantaneous addressing of needs/wants –Consumer in charge… NOT the producer ipods Tivo Television Baby boomers Gaston (2006)

Characteristics of Natives High expectations for online experiences –No patience for wait time is not fast enough –Instant messaging –Text messaging Key classroom elements needed: –Interactivity –Exploration immediate / multiple “conversations ” Gaston (2006)

How teachers can respond… Ignore the technology “trend” Chase every fad Pay attention to research and judiciously incorporate technology Be aware of how important technology is and how is has impacted your students Gaston (2006)

References Gaston, J. (2006, April). Reaching and teaching the digital natives. Library Hi Tech News, 23(3), Kennedy, G. E., Judd, T. S., Churchward, A., Gray, K. & Krause, K.-L. (2008). First year students' experiences with technology: Are they really digital natives? Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 24(1), Lee Rainie. (2006, September). FT.com site : They are the future - and they're coming to a workplace near you. FT.com,1. Retrieved June 15, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: Prensky, M. (2001). “Digital natives, digital immigrants”. On the Horizon, October 2001, 9 (5)NCB University Press. Prensky, M. (2001). “Do they really think differently?” On the Horizon, December 2001, 9 (6)NCB University Press. Timothy VanSlyke "Digital natives, digital immigrants: some thoughts from the generation gap." The Technology Source, May/June 2003.

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