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

2. 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

3. The Past.

4. 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

5.
Times have changed.
, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2009, …

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

7. 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

8. 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”

9. 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

10. 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
Gary Small, M.D. Director of the UCLA Memory & Aging Research Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior.

11. 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

12. 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

13. Cons of Technology

14. Cons of Technology

15. 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.

16. Virtual Classroom.

17. References
Interlandi, Jeneen. “Reading This Will Change Your Brain.” Newsweek 14 Oct Retrieved September 14, 2009, from
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
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
Oblinger, Diana. (2006, May). “Simulations, Games, and Learning.” Retrieved September 14, 2009, from