Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Digital Native or Digital Immigrant
Students today were born into the digital age. Elementary school students today are born into homes using iPods, iPads, laptops, and cellphones in their day to day life. Children today are teaching their parents how to use the technology in their homes. Why should the use of technology stop once they walk through the doors of their school? These kids are fearless when it comes to technology. The world is at their fingertips. Educators today need to grab onto to these tools and incorporate them into the classroom if students are to excel to excellence in the future. All of the students today in k-12 are digital natives. They were born speaking the language of technology. We, the educators, are for the most part digital immigrants. We are learning as we go. We were not born into the digital world in which we live now. We are trying to adapt as best we can. The role of the teacher, as a digital immigrant, is to educate our students and point them in the right direction and watch them fly. We may not be as technologically savvy but we can push them in the right direction. And you know what, it is o.k. if our students know more than we do in technology. Just watch them excel and be proud. When I was in school my first taste of technology was in high school. My Intro to Computers class, including my floppy disc. How can I compete with these kids that are digital natives? What I can do is keep them interested. Use technology in my daily lessons. Incorporate the smartboards, iPads, iPods into my daily lessons. Let them engage with the technology. Let them teach me some things and have fun!
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Hi! I like the way you write. Even though we had 3 different questions to answer, you made it flow into on smooth blog. =)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Joan that you are an effective communicator. Joan, you provided encouraging comments. I like the way you did that! Christine, you definitely understand the need to engage 21st century learners by using the tools that are familiar to them.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your enthusiasm surrounding this topic. We need teachers like you!
ReplyDeleteI like the way you pointed out that it's okay if the students know more than the teachers in the area of technology.
ReplyDeleteIt is very true that we need to incorporate what students use every day into our lesson plans. I was a teaching assistant and 1-to-1 instructor for a special ed high school. Rather than use the students' interest in their iPods as a tool for success, these items were confiscated and only given back after certain steps were met. How sad! These teachers completely missed the boat - these items could have been used, even something as simple as finding a song or short movie clip that coincided with the lesson topic could have engaged the students rather than alienating them!
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