Sunday, 13 March 2011

Prensky's Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

I was looking through my postings and realised that I hadn't commented on Prenskys article 'Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants' .  Since completing other readings ie. Engagement Theory and connectivism, I can see even more clearly why todays learners need ICTs as an essential element to their learning.

In this article, Dr. Bruce D. Perry of Baylor College of Medicine states "Different kinds of experiences lead to different brain structures."  In essence, the way todays learners think has changed. 

Digital technology has allowed this generation the freedom to 'relate-create-donate' (Kearsley, G & Schneiderman, B: Engagement Theory: A Framework for Technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm  Todays Learners are able to communicate, research, create and socialise using a varied range of digital technologies. (I think back to when I studied at CQU, I thought I was advanced having an electric typewriter with inbuilt correction tape (many moons ago!) 

These 'digital natives' are sitting in our classrooms wanting to be engaged, but what is todays educational experience offering?  I am a 'digital immigrant' however, I think that the technological evolution offers not only learners exciting opportunities, but teachers exciting (& challenging) opportunities to enhance and get more from their students.

The incorporation of ICTs, I think, would provide a two-fold affect in that increased motivation and engagement leads to less behavioural problems.  Learners are stimulated and therefore learning outcomes are deepened.

The underlying thread that seems to be woven throughout this course thus far is that learners must be meaningfully engaged, and that the use of ICTs can provide this and much more.

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