Digital Natives vs. Digital immigrants

  

According to Prensky’s article, I fall under ‘Digital Native.’ When I was growing up my household didn’t really watch a whole lot of T.V. or screen time which I am so thankful for. But as I have grown up I have realized how much I truly am on a screen. This year and my freshman year I have taken many online classes, this being one of them. I like the flexibility it provides me. One of the classes I was supposed to take in person was 3 hours long every Monday. Personally, there is no way I can sit through a three-hour lecture without going and doing something. I definitely am always thinking of the next assignment I have to do so when a class is taking too long sometimes, I feel that I can be more productive outside of class. I do think that no one can truly multitask, which is one of Prensky’s big arguments. Our brains are not fully capable of doing so. If we are looking at two things at the same time, there is no way we can do our best work on even one of the assignments. We also NEED guidance. The only reason I take online classes is because I like the structure of the classes and I see all that I need to do. In some classes, I need to be in person including math because I need guidance and help. 

I do feel like my attention span has decreased but then again when I am learning about something I

really find interesting it’s a completely different ball game. Take this assignment for example.. I find

it really interesting so I will be able to complete it in one sitting and not get distracted or frustrated.

When professors and teachers make assignments more fun or course it is more enticing for us to want

to complete it! Games make assignments less daunting and can make one feel less stressed so they can

concentrate on the task at hand. We can’t say that technology hasn’t drastically changed our lives because

it has. But I do find it really interesting when we talk about how technology has affected the younger

generations but also the older as well.

Kirschner states, “Being a ‘digital native’ doesn’t necessarily mean one is ‘digitally literate.” Kirschner

is talking about how we as humans can’t learn so quickly, we still need guidance, help and support.

They also go on to say that multitasking isn’t necessarily efficient for anyone, and our brains have not

changed in this way. Our brains have not changed in this way. When we multitask, we aren’t fully focusing

on one thing and therefore we only retain half the information.  And realizing that the younger generations

will be teachers next being able to fully understand what younger generations are going through and be

able to make learning more relevant with today's technology. Humans are very adaptive and can overcome

changes quickly.

Overall, there were many myths Kirschner stated against Prensky’s findings. It is important to have these conversations about whether the way we provide technologies in school is beneficial to students. Are they hindering our communication skills? Are they shortening our attention spans? Many questions come to mind. But we do know that it is affecting our communities and schools everywhere.

Parts are positive and others negative. But we overall are all new to this whole technology thing so finding a happy medium will be the most important start.