What do you make of the (divergent) positions of Boyd and Prensky? Where do you stand on the “digital native” terminology?
In the school setting, you often find teachers who are able to seamlessly intertwine technology into the classroom, no matter the age of the students, or you have teachers who are so incredibly against it that they refuse to use the doc camera in the corner that may be just missing a cord to be functional. My own experience with technology in the classroom fluctuates. I started my career at a new charter school in Providence, Rhode Island. It was in a state of the art building where each classroom was equipped with smart boards. Three years later, the classrooms were then remodeled and we were equipped with even newer Smart-Boards. Many of my lessons were created digitally and while simultaneously teaching students on zoom and in person during the height of the Pandemic, I was able to navigate sharing screens, doc cameras, and creating digital lessons that were accessible to students in the classroom and at home. When I started in my current setting, I was fortunate enough to receive a new magnetic whiteboard. and my lessons are often delivered in paper and pencil.
The term "digitally native" makes sense when you think of it at the most simple form: growing up fully immersed in the current technology. I agree with Boyd when she states that it is dangerous to continue the rhetoric. Boyd states "a focus on today's youth as digital natives presumes that all we as a society need to do is be patient and wait for a generation of these digital wunderkinds to grow up" (Boyd, 2014 p. 197). Technology has become something that is very polarizing. I remember my Nana constantly making comments about the use of our phones, my brother's use of iPads, or relying on a computer to complete school work. being "digitally native" divided my Nana from my siblings and I, the reliance on technology was something she would never fully understand. As technology evolved around her, we gifted her iPhones, iPads, and digital cameral printers.
I remember that she would always cite the reason why she couldn't text on her phone was because my sister or I didn't teach her how. The saying "you can't teach old dogs new tricks" comes to mind. We are stuck in a fixed mindset where we think the "digital immigrants" will never be able to reach competency that the "digital natives" reach.
Thank you, Allison for bringing up how many teachers have a fixed mindset about technology, avoiding it all together due to one or two bad experiences.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your description of "Digital Natives" as a very basic and simplistic characterization of today's youth. It is indeed polarizing for many families and communities, as many of us fear the unknown. Thinking about the future, the children of today are growing up with Artificial Intelligence like ChatGPT, making me question the accuracy of labeling any one group as a Digital Native because there will always be new technological advancements that are not "native" to any of us. Further, as you mentioned, it is essential to teach our youth about how to use these technologies effectively!
Hi Allison, love the meme by the way. Growing up my parents would say I had it easy because I was born in an era with technology was created. honestly, they were right about that but did I really know about technology? I was very creative with my social media platforms but when it came to school work I didn't really know how to use powerpoint, it wasn't until high school they gave us a course on using microsoft tools.
ReplyDeleteHi Allison, I think you bring up a really great point when you discuss the fixed mindset we have with the two categories. Who Prensky considers a "digital immigrant" certainly could become proficient in consuming, producing, and using technology. I wonder if Prensky has a term for that because they didn't grow up in a world of technology but they became proficient in it.
ReplyDeleteHi Allison,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was reading your post it reminded me of how we used to have SmartBoards in our former district, which is clearly a privilege compared to our current chalk boards. It reminds me of a concept that Danah Boyd had mentioned about how "digital natives" can have differing access to technology based on their district/ privilege.
I can totally relate about the comment your grandmother would make about teaching them new technology. My grandfather also had a hard time learning how to use his iphone, but I think it has to do with him not being interested in learning.
ReplyDeleteAs I read your blog I could relate. It even brought the images of some of my families members say "you can't teach a old dog new treats" I would always laugh and reply "I will will teach a man to fish"
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