Digital Natives
One of my interests is the impact that technology can have on school change. Marc Prensky asserts the need for change in our school system and focuses on the digital native/digital immigrant dichotomy as one reason for us to pursue change in his article, “Digital Natives/Digital Immigrants.” Why do too many students find school boring? There are probably many answers to this question, but one of the most obvious is that much schoolwork is meaningless, irrelevant and not stimulating to today’s learners. Technology is motivating to kids. Their world is rich in technology. Their out-of-school activities are peppered with technology use. They find it interesting! When we effectively integrate technology with good teaching practice (and that is the key – good teaching practice), students become more motivated, interested, find meaning and relevancy, and can grow academically. They will become actively engaged in their own learning.
We need to retool our teachers with the skills and the new mind set about learning they need. This will not only require them to be accepting of this change, but will also require the need for strong professional development in merging the areas of curriculum, pedagogy and technology to most effectively develop skill in our students. Without the professional development piece, consistent, across-the-board change will never occur.
My favorite quote form the article: “It’s just dumb (and lazy) of educators - not to mention ineffective - to presume that (despite their traditions) the Digital Immigrant way is the only way to teach, and that the Digital Natives’ “language” is not as capable as their own of encompassing any and every idea.”
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