As I read the article Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, by Marc Prensky, I realized that I am definitely a Digital Immigrant. Technology was not used throughout my education. In fact, I can remember the first time I ever used a computer. It was in my 4th grade class, where our class played the game 'Oregon Trail.' It was, without a doubt, the most fun I had ever had in a classroom! I still love that game to be quite honest. Since my first experience with technology wasn't really until the fourth grade, I therefore cannot be considered a native to technology.
Students today, however, are almost exclusively Digital Natives. Technology plays such a large role in the lives of youth today, whether it's in the classroom or not. My generation did not own cell phones in middle school or bring laptops to high school like students do today. I think the Digital Immigrants like myself have to be able to adapt to use technology in the classroom or they will not be able to connect with their students.
While attending a small rural high school in Redmond, Oregon, we did not have a lot of technology in the classroom. There was the occasional overhead or two, but nothing really beyond that. Teachers used the chalkboard, coupled with lecture to teach.
College was a significant step above my high school for technology. PowerPoint lecture was the norm for the majority of my classes, and most Professors would even post their lecture notes via Blackboard. Although it wasn't exactly difficult to adapt to the "new technology," it was a different method of learning the material.
I plan on using technology in my classroom. Teachers of the 21st century really don't have the option of not using technology in my opinion. If our students are accustomed to using technology to obtain information, entertain themselves, and socialize with their peers, how can we teach without it? If anything, the articles have only reinforced my opinion about technology in the classroom.
You don't consider yourself a Digital Native in any respects? I feel that our generation is native to many aspects of digital technology -- text messaging for example, or Facebook! We were in the heart of the target market for these products when they were introduced, so I feel like I can't totally call myself a digital immigrant :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of it Steve. I feel the same way and I am even older than you!! But I feel it is important to adapt to todays technology because our students will most definately be adept at using multiple technologies throughout their coursework and personal lives. Great post homes!! JB
ReplyDeleteI think that you will find that you are more of a native than an immigrant. I feel that the people that Prensky is talking about are the baby boomers and older. But I do not know you all that well so you just may be a digital native. Also have you ever played the Oregon Trail game since? You say you still love it but do you still play it? My favorite way to play it is to name all the people my friends, then put rations to minimum and speed to maximum and then see who makes it the longest without dying...I know morbid but fun.
ReplyDeleteSteve, I remember playing the oregon trail computer game. Do you remember the game where your a fish and you have to eat smaller fish and you keep getting bigger? It was a very fun game like the oregon trail. Times have radically changed from no computers in class, to students bringing in their own laptops. Your right, the 21st century is different. Great post!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with the idea that we can't teach without technology, but I wonder what resources are going to be in the classroom for me to teach with! I go out and seek technology and use what I can, while others don't use it at all, because they are not willing to go and seek it out! It is a crazy world that we live in with budgets the way they are!
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