TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY SAVVY GENERATIONOVERVIEW
This article addresses the fact that many educators have SLID INTO THE 21st CENTURY. Educators are not nearly as TECHNOLOGY SAVVY as the new generations which they are teaching.
In this article PRENSKY refers to digital natives as those who have grown up using technology and digital immigrants as those who have learned how to use technology later in life. PRENSKY makes an important point for educators today. He states that in order for educators to reach the students, the digital natives, use of 20th century technology and our guide to training is no longer sufficient.
Prensky points out that a digital immigrant can never truly become a digital native because they have not grown up with the technology such as computers, video games, cell phones and Internet. Since digital immigrants can never become digital native it is important that the natives and immigrants work together to find a way to incorporate their ' digital lives' into their education at school.
REFERENCE POINTS
- 21st Century, the current digital era
- Digital Natives are the those who have grown up in a completely digital era
- Digital Immigrants are the others who have not grown up in a completely digital era, they will never become digital natives
- Guidance abilities should be a more desired characteristic of a teacher than highly qualified in the curriculum content.
- Engaging today's children with "game play", using the same characteristics of a video game: interesting choices, immediate, useful feedback and immediate chances to see your improvement.
- Teachers need to collaborate by allowing the digitally native students to help guide and lead their learning as if they were teaching.
- Virtual groups supersede herds because NO ONE person is left out; there is always someone somewhere in the world that has the same interests.
- DIGITAL TOOLS are integrated into every aspect of today's student's lives.
This article addresses ways in which we as teachers can engage today's 21st century digital native students. Technology is completely integrated into the everyday lives of today’s students. We must find a method of engagement so that these children remain actively engaged.
A teacher does not necessarily have to include and incorporate all of the latest digital technology into their teaching. As a digital immigrant he/she must find a way to include 'gameplay' into their teaching style. This means that teachers must find a way to include, interesting choices, immediate useful feedback and the ability to immediately see if you've made improvement.
Today's students are exposed to 'the era of video games and virtual reality'. In order to completely engage the digital natives, the digital immigrants of today must seek the advice and skills of the natives and work together to create a curriculum or way of maintaining both worlds.
