Are digital natives a myth or reality? Re-write

Technology is prevalent in our every-day lives and plays a substantial role in everything that we do (Danby et al., 2018) In one way or another, technology is in everything that we do and part of every aspect of society; including education. It is prevalent in our day-to-day lives as we use it to communicate with those around us, listen to music, medical needs, travelling the world etc.

Digital Native vs Digital Immigrant

The term ‘Digital Native’ refers to the generations born in the digital age and where technology plays an integral role in their everyday lives (Wang et al., 2013)

‘Digital immigrants’ is a term fabricated by Marc Prensky to categorise the older generations that were raised before the digital age (Prensky, 2001). Prensky (2001) continues by mentioning that digital immigrants need to adapt and learn the new technologies that they are presented with

Myth or Reality?

Before initiating research, the topic of Digital Natives, I had no idea what this term meant. As I started reading about this topic, I found myself against Prensky’s concept of labeling people into the categories of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. However, as I progressed further into my research, I found myself agreeing with the concept of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants as a reality.

Power of technology

Seeing as Digital Natives are raised in a world where technology encompasses their lives, I decided to explore the impact of technology on childrens’ lives. The use of Technology and the impact that it has on childrens’ development played a huge role as to why my views have changed. Technology can encourage positive behaviour, as it can help to promote empathy, and encourage prosocial behaviour towards diversity (O’Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson, 2011, as cited in Huda et al., 2017). However, technology can also encourage negative actions such as “aggressive behaviour, risky sexual attitude, and substance abuse” (Huda et al., 2017). As a Digital Native in a time of rapid technological advancements, I have seen the effects of technology in education.

An example of a negative effect of technology is when my brother was asked to write a narrative, while only using his imagination. He was unable to create an original creative piece

of writing and could only write about characters that he was fixated on. How can you create a cure for cancer if you can’t look beyond what you already know; without thinking outside of the box? Plowman et al. (2010) finds that the usage of screen-based media such as televisions, weaken children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.

The term Digital Native is a reality. Children are consumed with technology, to the point that they are unable to problem solve without the usage of technology. Even though Digital Natives can use technology, are they able to apply it to the real world? They may know how to use a calculator to solve math questions, but can they get to the right answer without it (Margaryan et al., 2001)?

As a future teacher, it is important for me to be updated on the usage of technology and how to enforce technology to unlock my students’ full academic potential, while still providing connections to the ‘real world’.

References:

Danby, S. J., Fleer, M., Davidson, C., & Hatzigianni, M. (2018). Digital childhoods technologies and children’s everyday lives. Springer Singapore: Imprint: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6484-5

Huda, M., Hehsan, A., Jasmi, K. A., Mustari, M. I., Shahrill, M., Basiron, B., & Gassama, S. K. (2017). Empowering children with adaptive technology skills: Careful engagement in the digital information age. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 9(3), 693–708.

Margaryan, A., Littlejohn, A., Vojt, G. (2011). Are digital natives a myth or reality? University students’ use of digital technologies. Elsevier, 429-440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2010.09.004

Plowman, L., McPake, J., & Stephen, C. (2010). The technologisation of childhood? Young children and technology in the home. Children & Society, 24(1), 63–74. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2008.00180.x

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants part 1. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1-6. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au/docview/214629645?accountid=8194

Wang, Q., Myers, D. M., & Sundaram, D. (2013). Digital natives and digital immigrants. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 5(6), 409–419. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-013-0296-y