2) What difference to all this might the 'digital divide' make? a) To socioeconomically related access issues within a society? b) To global access issues across countries and regions?
I think that the assumption is that the digital divide, certain people being able to afford to have the means to access the Internet and other new technologies, in terms of Prensky’s ideas, will result in digital natives having a better understanding of the things they are taught than those who do not have access to such technologies. As Prensky suggests that natives speaking a new language should be taught through this new language of technology.
However, one commentator on this topic, Henry Jenkins, in his blog writes about the way in which the term digital native is all encompassing and does not allow any room for variations. He states that his research suggests that whilst lots of the children he has worked with do use technology, there were variations in the way in which it affected their lives. For example, although lots of the children did not have Internet access or a computer at home, they were still able to use technology to express themselves, for example through computer games or DVD collections.
Therefore, the digital divide, according to Jenkins, will not necessarily mean that those with Internet access will not benefit from learning by using technology, as those without it still have the means by which to experience many of the same benefits, such as expressing themselves, finding information, and communicating with friends.
The result of this, in terms of global issues across countries and regions, will mean that those with access to the technologies will not be any better equipped or learn the content in an easier way, because, as Jenkins suggests, those who do not necessarily have Internet access at home, still do have a means of expressing themselves through technology as it is so ingrained in modern day life.
Showing posts with label Digital natives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Digital natives. Show all posts
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
9.1- Wenger and Prenksy
1) How might Wenger's notions on practice communities relate to Prensky's on education?
Wenger (2001) came up with the idea of Communities of Practice, referring to the notion that learning benefits from experiencing a sense of community with those around you whom you learn with.
I believe that this related to Prensy’s ideas about education in that it implies that students can benefit by taking advantage of their ability to connect digitally, and so by doing so can form an online Community of Practice which will aid the process of education.
So for example, for digital natives, learning online through online lectures or computer games as Prensky suggests, and having the ability to discuss their thoughts and ideas with peers and tutors remotely through perhaps forums or instant messages, means that they will be able to create an educational community of practice, which according to Wenger, will help them to learn.
Therefore by combining Prenksy’s ideas about digital natives and how to most effectively teach them, and Wenger’s ideas about communities of practice and education, we should, in theory, create an environment which is conjunctive to their learning.
Wenger (2001) came up with the idea of Communities of Practice, referring to the notion that learning benefits from experiencing a sense of community with those around you whom you learn with.
I believe that this related to Prensy’s ideas about education in that it implies that students can benefit by taking advantage of their ability to connect digitally, and so by doing so can form an online Community of Practice which will aid the process of education.
So for example, for digital natives, learning online through online lectures or computer games as Prensky suggests, and having the ability to discuss their thoughts and ideas with peers and tutors remotely through perhaps forums or instant messages, means that they will be able to create an educational community of practice, which according to Wenger, will help them to learn.
Therefore by combining Prenksy’s ideas about digital natives and how to most effectively teach them, and Wenger’s ideas about communities of practice and education, we should, in theory, create an environment which is conjunctive to their learning.
W9. Task c. Person who most threatens the notion of native/immigrant in digital culture
c) A person known to you (could be you, but you don't need to admit it!) who most threatens the notion of native/immigrant in digital culture.
The person I know who most threatens the notion of native/immigrant in digital culture is Mark, as mentioned in a previous post.
I believe this is because technology is so ingrained into his day to day routine, that he would be unable to go about his daily life without it and to remove facebook or his mobile phone from him would leave him completely lost.
I believe him to be a digital native in that the way he uses technology means that he would be unable to return to when he did not use it, both on a professional and a personal level. I don’t see him as having an “accent” as Prensky puts it, in that his use of technology resembles that of someone who has been exposed to it for all of their lives, as opposed to Mark who has only been exposed to it as it began to affect his life, which could not have throughout the duration of his life.
The person I know who most threatens the notion of native/immigrant in digital culture is Mark, as mentioned in a previous post.
I believe this is because technology is so ingrained into his day to day routine, that he would be unable to go about his daily life without it and to remove facebook or his mobile phone from him would leave him completely lost.
I believe him to be a digital native in that the way he uses technology means that he would be unable to return to when he did not use it, both on a professional and a personal level. I don’t see him as having an “accent” as Prensky puts it, in that his use of technology resembles that of someone who has been exposed to it for all of their lives, as opposed to Mark who has only been exposed to it as it began to affect his life, which could not have throughout the duration of his life.
W9. Task a. Oldest digital native
a) The oldest digital native you know.
I have struggled to think of anyone I would consider “old” who would fall into Marc Prenksy’s definition of a digital native. The only example I can think of is someone who I worked with, Mark, who worked in the I.T. department of an office I was working in over the Summer.
Mark is 26 and would always be on facebook. His primary means of communication was online, through e-mails, facebook or MSN. However, as Mark worked in the I.T. department and his skills lied within computers and other uses of modern technology, I think this would be expected as he has be taught and encouraged, both by himself and in his line of work, to keep up to date with technology and therefore it would be logical for him to use it to the best of his ability.
In this way, surely his ‘digital nativeness’ would have developed along the same lines as a “real” digital natives would be (those who were born after 1980) in that he has learnt his skills through having a need to use them fairly frequently, he would not be able to do his job efficiently if he were not au fait with this technologies.
I have struggled to think of anyone I would consider “old” who would fall into Marc Prenksy’s definition of a digital native. The only example I can think of is someone who I worked with, Mark, who worked in the I.T. department of an office I was working in over the Summer.
Mark is 26 and would always be on facebook. His primary means of communication was online, through e-mails, facebook or MSN. However, as Mark worked in the I.T. department and his skills lied within computers and other uses of modern technology, I think this would be expected as he has be taught and encouraged, both by himself and in his line of work, to keep up to date with technology and therefore it would be logical for him to use it to the best of his ability.
In this way, surely his ‘digital nativeness’ would have developed along the same lines as a “real” digital natives would be (those who were born after 1980) in that he has learnt his skills through having a need to use them fairly frequently, he would not be able to do his job efficiently if he were not au fait with this technologies.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
W8. Task 1. What general attitudes have been based on Digital Immgration?
In terms of general attitudes based on the idea of digital immigration, to me it seems as if digital natives only know the digital generation and are only able to conduct their lives online and offline, in that the offline is merged with the online seamlessly and there is no distinction between to two. They are equally as comfortable when offline as when online.
Conversely, a digital immigrant is very aware when they are online that this is separate to offline activities. For example, a digital native might not think twice about conducting their lives on a multiplicity of different formats, arranging an outing on facebook, e-mailing a tutor about not understanding something, texting someone to tell them you’re going to be late. Conversely, a digital immigrant might find conducting their lives in such a way to be completely foreign, preferring a more streamlined existence, using the telephone, looking up a word in a dictionary, reading something to the end before moving on. In this way it is much more linear, and organized, processing one thing before moving onto another.
As a digital native, I prefer things more simultaneously, writing a blog, listening to music, downloading a song, instant messaging someone, all done at the same time. However this does raise the question: am I writing to my best ability if doing so many things at the same time? Maybe a digital immigrant would be inclined to say no, if I were to work on only one thing at a time I’d be better able to concentrate and do it in half the time. But for me, I tend to think, “Why do one thing at a time when you can do four??”
Conversely, a digital immigrant is very aware when they are online that this is separate to offline activities. For example, a digital native might not think twice about conducting their lives on a multiplicity of different formats, arranging an outing on facebook, e-mailing a tutor about not understanding something, texting someone to tell them you’re going to be late. Conversely, a digital immigrant might find conducting their lives in such a way to be completely foreign, preferring a more streamlined existence, using the telephone, looking up a word in a dictionary, reading something to the end before moving on. In this way it is much more linear, and organized, processing one thing before moving onto another.
As a digital native, I prefer things more simultaneously, writing a blog, listening to music, downloading a song, instant messaging someone, all done at the same time. However this does raise the question: am I writing to my best ability if doing so many things at the same time? Maybe a digital immigrant would be inclined to say no, if I were to work on only one thing at a time I’d be better able to concentrate and do it in half the time. But for me, I tend to think, “Why do one thing at a time when you can do four??”
W8. Task 1. Who cares about Digital Immigration?
Who cares about it?
One of the main things which have resulted from this difference between two generations is that it has changed the way in which people process information.
The term ‘Digital Immigrant’ was first coined by Marc Prency in an article written in 2001 about the effects of this change upon the teaching and learning processes which can be assessed here.
Within this article he makes the point that if digital natives are being taught through digital immigrant methods, they aren’t going to learn as effectively as if they were being taught in a language they are more likely to relate to, the language of digital natives.
For example, he states that,
This raises the issue of the effects of the digital divide. If those who are digital natives have a different way of processing information to those who do not have regular access to the Internet, does this mean that different methods of teaching will be needed for different classes of people as lower class families are less likely to have a family P.C. on which to access the Internet?
One of the main things which have resulted from this difference between two generations is that it has changed the way in which people process information.
The term ‘Digital Immigrant’ was first coined by Marc Prency in an article written in 2001 about the effects of this change upon the teaching and learning processes which can be assessed here.
Within this article he makes the point that if digital natives are being taught through digital immigrant methods, they aren’t going to learn as effectively as if they were being taught in a language they are more likely to relate to, the language of digital natives.
For example, he states that,
“…there is no reason that a generation that can memorize over 100 Pokémon characters with all their characteristics, history and evolution can’t learn the names, populations, capitals and relationships of all the 101 nations in the world. It just depends on how it is presented.”(p. 5)
This raises the issue of the effects of the digital divide. If those who are digital natives have a different way of processing information to those who do not have regular access to the Internet, does this mean that different methods of teaching will be needed for different classes of people as lower class families are less likely to have a family P.C. on which to access the Internet?
Monday, 16 March 2009
W8. Task 1. What Is Digital Immigration?
After doing some research on the topic online, one of the main things which I’ve discovered about digital immigration is that goes hand in hand with digital natives, who are almost the opposite of digital immigrants.
I’ve found that the main thing about digital immigration is that it refers to those people who have learned skills when it comes to conducting themselves online, rather than it being something which is natural, as it is for digital natives. A few sources have told me that the line where you become a native or an immigrant is 1980. If you’re born before this you’ve had to learn skills when it comes to new technologies, whereas if you’re born after 1980 you have these skills naturally as a result of being surrounded by them throughout your life.
I’ve found that the main thing about digital immigration is that it refers to those people who have learned skills when it comes to conducting themselves online, rather than it being something which is natural, as it is for digital natives. A few sources have told me that the line where you become a native or an immigrant is 1980. If you’re born before this you’ve had to learn skills when it comes to new technologies, whereas if you’re born after 1980 you have these skills naturally as a result of being surrounded by them throughout your life.
Week 8. Task 2. Web-site URLs
2) Identify five different websites/five-pages-on-different sites dealing with digital immigration and its counterpart. Give their urls.
1. http://www.borndigitalbook.com/excerpt.php
2. http://www.ascd.org/authors/ed_lead/el200512_prensky.html
3. http://www.newscorp.com/news/news_247.html
4. http://www.digitalnative.org/wiki/Main_Page
5. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article683193.ece
1. http://www.borndigitalbook.com/excerpt.php
2. http://www.ascd.org/authors/ed_lead/el200512_prensky.html
3. http://www.newscorp.com/news/news_247.html
4. http://www.digitalnative.org/wiki/Main_Page
5. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article683193.ece
Thursday, 12 March 2009
W8. Task 4. Criticism No. 5 Newspaper
As this particular article was placed in the entertainment section of the web site of a popular daily newspaper, entertainment values would therefore play a role in the way in which it is written. I believe this is evident in the way that it name drops more popular and everyday examples that the reader would be able to relate to, such as mentioning Big Brother, 24, and the England World Cup game.
Moreover, whole research papers and academic articles are summarized down to one or two sentences to represent the whole thing, so this implies to me that we are losing some of the finer detail, in favour of a reductionist statement. Whilst this may be easier for the typical reader of the newspaper to comprehend, it also inevitably means that some of the more complex arguments of the articles are omitted.
URL: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article683193.ece
Moreover, whole research papers and academic articles are summarized down to one or two sentences to represent the whole thing, so this implies to me that we are losing some of the finer detail, in favour of a reductionist statement. Whilst this may be easier for the typical reader of the newspaper to comprehend, it also inevitably means that some of the more complex arguments of the articles are omitted.
URL: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article683193.ece
W8. Task 3. Criticism No. 5 Newspaper (cont.)
Whilst in general the site does practice what it is preaching, it has an almost overwhelming amount of hyperlinks taking you to different places, not all of which are even vaguely related to the article. I believe that this represents the way in which our needs from the news are changing: a shift from picking up the newspaper and physically reading it, to a restructure of this format, getting all of our news online and tailoring it to our specific needs, interests and daily routine. Sharing is also encouraged with the ability to bookmark and share on other networking sites. In this way it does practice what it preaches for the digital natives.
However, for the digital immigrants I would think that perhaps it is a bit too over complicated. Initially it seems quite complicated and difficult to use, in that the actual article is surrounded by advertisements, as well as hundreds of other hyperlinks which are organized quite sporadically. In this way it is itself a representation of the different ways in which digital immigrants and digital natives take in information and changes in the way information is presented as a result of this. Whilst a native might read it for a bit, and then move on to a different hyperlink, taking in information quickly until something else which took their interest came along, an immigrant might want to read it through in its entirely, read through all the hyperlinks, and then decide where they want to head off next.
URL: 5. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article683193.ece
However, for the digital immigrants I would think that perhaps it is a bit too over complicated. Initially it seems quite complicated and difficult to use, in that the actual article is surrounded by advertisements, as well as hundreds of other hyperlinks which are organized quite sporadically. In this way it is itself a representation of the different ways in which digital immigrants and digital natives take in information and changes in the way information is presented as a result of this. Whilst a native might read it for a bit, and then move on to a different hyperlink, taking in information quickly until something else which took their interest came along, an immigrant might want to read it through in its entirely, read through all the hyperlinks, and then decide where they want to head off next.
URL: 5. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article683193.ece
W8. Task 3. Criticism No. 4 Wiki
The next web site I am looking at is a wiki abut the concept of digital natives. In this way, it most certainly practices what it preaches in that wikis are a prime example of the way in which digital natives use the internet, allowing them to take part in prod usage, sharing information collaboratively and allowing anyone to edit or develop it without expecting money or any other payment in return.
To me this seems like the perfect way to discuss digital natives and the ways in which the new generation are making use of digital technology in order to communicate, as it is speaking in the same language as it were as the digital natives. In addition, as you can share the pages and sync them with your other networking sites, facebook, Wikipedia twitter etc. and take part in discussion, it seems like by adopting the practices of digital natives, digital immigrants hope to better understand them.
However, one irony is that the site claims to be for teachers and members of the older generation to get together and share ideas about different ways to teach and communicate with the generation of digital natives. This seems ironic in that digital immigrants probably would not initially think of sharing information in this way, perhaps they would prefer to gather information from a book, a reliable source they can trust, rather than anyone who decides to add their two cents to the wiki page. In this way would they really be willing to contribute to a wiki on the subject? From the amount of content there is on the site, and from the fact that it seems as if the majority of the hyperlinks are external rather than internal, it seems not.
URL: http://www.digitalnative.org/wiki/Main_Page
To me this seems like the perfect way to discuss digital natives and the ways in which the new generation are making use of digital technology in order to communicate, as it is speaking in the same language as it were as the digital natives. In addition, as you can share the pages and sync them with your other networking sites, facebook, Wikipedia twitter etc. and take part in discussion, it seems like by adopting the practices of digital natives, digital immigrants hope to better understand them.
However, one irony is that the site claims to be for teachers and members of the older generation to get together and share ideas about different ways to teach and communicate with the generation of digital natives. This seems ironic in that digital immigrants probably would not initially think of sharing information in this way, perhaps they would prefer to gather information from a book, a reliable source they can trust, rather than anyone who decides to add their two cents to the wiki page. In this way would they really be willing to contribute to a wiki on the subject? From the amount of content there is on the site, and from the fact that it seems as if the majority of the hyperlinks are external rather than internal, it seems not.
URL: http://www.digitalnative.org/wiki/Main_Page
W8. Task 3. Criticism No. 3 Speech
As my third web-site is a corporate site, it’s main priority is with giving information and of course I would expect it to have a bias towards the company it represents, and I would not expect it to mention anything negative about this company.
The particular page I am looking at is a transcript of a speech on the topic of what the immergence of the digital native generation means for the newspaper industry. One of the main criticisms I have for the page is the lack of hyperlinks and the formality of it. This is in strike contrast to the web site number 3 I have described in a previous blog, in that there is hardly any hypertextuality at all. For me this means that rather than being directed to something else more relevant, or to something else I am interested in, there is a very low degree of interactivity, put simply you are on your own!
I would consider this very surprising as the company itself I have the impression of being extremely forward thinking and to be the first to encourage more interactivity, this is certainly the impression I get from the speech as it implies that all journalists should jump on the online bandwagon in order to make profits from this new generation.
URL: http://www.newscorp.com/news/news_247.html
The particular page I am looking at is a transcript of a speech on the topic of what the immergence of the digital native generation means for the newspaper industry. One of the main criticisms I have for the page is the lack of hyperlinks and the formality of it. This is in strike contrast to the web site number 3 I have described in a previous blog, in that there is hardly any hypertextuality at all. For me this means that rather than being directed to something else more relevant, or to something else I am interested in, there is a very low degree of interactivity, put simply you are on your own!
I would consider this very surprising as the company itself I have the impression of being extremely forward thinking and to be the first to encourage more interactivity, this is certainly the impression I get from the speech as it implies that all journalists should jump on the online bandwagon in order to make profits from this new generation.
URL: http://www.newscorp.com/news/news_247.html
W8. Task 3. Criticism No. 3. Speech (cont.)
Moreover, the speech was written in 2005, although this was only 4 years ago, given the rapidly increasing pace of the development of technology, 4 years can mean a lot of change in this field, and the statistics he refers to may no longer be the case, Perhaps the trends described have lost momentum, or have taken a completely different direction by now.
In sum, the way message of the speech and the way in which it is presented seem to juxtapose to one another to create an extremely contradictory message. One the one hand the speech suggests repacking and rebranding of information, with humour and gossip, to make it more digestible by the digital native generation. On the other is an extremely basic web site, which seems to have no much of message to put across other than the surface text.
URL: http://www.newscorp.com/news/news_247.html
In sum, the way message of the speech and the way in which it is presented seem to juxtapose to one another to create an extremely contradictory message. One the one hand the speech suggests repacking and rebranding of information, with humour and gossip, to make it more digestible by the digital native generation. On the other is an extremely basic web site, which seems to have no much of message to put across other than the surface text.
URL: http://www.newscorp.com/news/news_247.html
W8. Task 3. Criticism No. 2 Teaching Digital Natives
Here the author describes the problems faced as a result of teachers who are digital immigrants using the types of teaching methods they were taught by in order to teach digital natives. He argues that as a result of this shift digital natives learn in a different way to the previous generation, so teaching methods equally need to change.
My problem with this is that the suggestions the author makes are inevitably flawed in that he himself is a digital immigrant. It is all very well suggesting that digital natives will learn more effectively if they are taught by a video game, and this seems to go with the logic he is describing, but does this necessarily mean that we ought to be using this method to teach spelling, geography, or chemistry? I am tempted to think not, in that school is an environment which lends itself to learning and education, having a teacher stand at the front of the classroom is something I associate with learning, and taking in information. On the other hand, sitting on the Internet is something I associate with my free time, and socializing ahead of taking in facts. I think a clear distinction and set of cultural practices are needed for both in order to prevent learning becoming trivialized.
And in this case, surely to put across his argument in a format which is more relevant to the digital natives, his article should have instead been represented through a “shoot ‘em up” style video game rather than an uninspiring black text on white background with no images?
URL: http://www.ascd.org/authors/ed_lead/el200512_prensky.html
My problem with this is that the suggestions the author makes are inevitably flawed in that he himself is a digital immigrant. It is all very well suggesting that digital natives will learn more effectively if they are taught by a video game, and this seems to go with the logic he is describing, but does this necessarily mean that we ought to be using this method to teach spelling, geography, or chemistry? I am tempted to think not, in that school is an environment which lends itself to learning and education, having a teacher stand at the front of the classroom is something I associate with learning, and taking in information. On the other hand, sitting on the Internet is something I associate with my free time, and socializing ahead of taking in facts. I think a clear distinction and set of cultural practices are needed for both in order to prevent learning becoming trivialized.
And in this case, surely to put across his argument in a format which is more relevant to the digital natives, his article should have instead been represented through a “shoot ‘em up” style video game rather than an uninspiring black text on white background with no images?
URL: http://www.ascd.org/authors/ed_lead/el200512_prensky.html
W8. Task 3. Criticisim No. 1 Book excerpt
This particular web-site is concerned with a book about the subject of digital natives. In order to sell the product they have published a lengthy excerpt of the book on the web-site promoting it.
In terms of up-to-dateness, as the book was published in August of 2008, and having read the excerpt, for the most part the information is up to date and extremely relevant, which I see as a strength given the rapid development of the technology it mentions. Of course, it shouldn’t be very long before even this is out of date and not reflective of the way in which the digital natives use technology.
A criticism I would make of the web-site is the irony in that the excerpt describes the way in which digital natives are able to share information digitally, by posting it to a blog, sharing a URL, e-mailing an online recommendation. However, no where on the site does it enable any of these things to happen. I would have expected a hyperlink, such as in the image I have posted, to share it via facebook, twitter, delicious, myspace or any of the other ways to bookmark or recommend it embedded into the site in order to take advantage of hypertextuality which is a fundamental part of the digital natives understanding of new technologies. However, here it seems that the reader will have to externally log into any of these sites
to be able to tell their friends about it, which to me seems ironic for a book which describes the different, new ways in which the digital natives can easily share information and how important this is. Maybe this was overlooked by the digital immigrants who produced the information!
URL: http://www.borndigitalbook.com/excerpt.php
In terms of up-to-dateness, as the book was published in August of 2008, and having read the excerpt, for the most part the information is up to date and extremely relevant, which I see as a strength given the rapid development of the technology it mentions. Of course, it shouldn’t be very long before even this is out of date and not reflective of the way in which the digital natives use technology.
A criticism I would make of the web-site is the irony in that the excerpt describes the way in which digital natives are able to share information digitally, by posting it to a blog, sharing a URL, e-mailing an online recommendation. However, no where on the site does it enable any of these things to happen. I would have expected a hyperlink, such as in the image I have posted, to share it via facebook, twitter, delicious, myspace or any of the other ways to bookmark or recommend it embedded into the site in order to take advantage of hypertextuality which is a fundamental part of the digital natives understanding of new technologies. However, here it seems that the reader will have to externally log into any of these sites
to be able to tell their friends about it, which to me seems ironic for a book which describes the different, new ways in which the digital natives can easily share information and how important this is. Maybe this was overlooked by the digital immigrants who produced the information!URL: http://www.borndigitalbook.com/excerpt.php
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