Beyond Digital Natives

Chapter 10

"young children are immersed in practices relating to popular culture, media and new technologies from birth" (Thomas; quoted from Marsh 2005, p.5).

I feel like anyone who interacts with anyone from the ages of 4 to 17 can plainly see that what they are stating in this quote is 100% accurate. I do not mean that as a stereotype that all young people are tech savvy because, after all, this is the stereotype we have been learning about. I do mean, though, that almost all young people are savvy in some sort of popular culture/media. For example, some students can master a new video game within days, some are social networking moguls, some know everything there is to know about the happenings of the rich and famous, and some simply download and master every new app to hit the app stores. At least one of these things consume young people's thoughts a majority of the time.

Chapter 11

"from Prensky's (2001) articles in which he describes young people as "Digital Natives" who are immersed in the world of digital technology and compares them to older "Digital Immigrants" who struggle to adapt to this brave new world" (Thomas; quoted from Prensky 2001).

So, over the course of all of our readings, we have learned what makes some a Digital Native and what makes someone a Digital Immigrant, as Prensky so eloquently described again for us. I found myself thinking, though, while reading this quote that basically restated the same premise that we have been reading, that there is no term for someone in the middle. Someone who is not necessarily eager to jump on every new technological bandwagon or is maybe not extremely tech-savvy, but someone who is also not unwilling to try new technologies that serve a relevant purpose.

Chapter 12

"Many-though not all-young people are using digital media in ways that are changing how they learn and how they relate to one another, to information, and to institutions." (Thomas)

I feel like this quote just reiterates a point that has been pretty consistent throughout the text, but I think it so important for us, as educators, to grasp. If we are unwilling to accept that technology, has an important impact on the lives of our students, than we are never going to aide them in becoming 21st-Century learners. It is our responsibility to teach them to use these new technologies appropriately and effectively.