What do you make of the positions of Prensky and Spiegel? Where do you stand on the “digital native” terminology?
I was drawn to the section "What's In A Name?" because I worried a lot about the lack of guidance my students have received on how to use technology. Since they have been using computers their entire educational career, no one has stopped to consider what they actually know. As a "native", they were entrusted with computers and the hope that they would just know what to do. However, using a computer, like any other tool, requires developed skill. My students often use their computers as they would their home iPads, without safeguards and for the intent of play, because they were never taught otherwise. I also grew up with a lot of technology, as Prensky defines being a native, I watched TV, listened to music as I studied, and am confident with a computer. But technology was also more scarce when I was beginning my educational career. Due to this, we had to make the most of our time when we did have access to the computer lab a few times a month. We were taught how to utilize a school computer, how to research, and type. Would Prensky consider myself or my students more of digital natives? Are we both? Are there tiers?
Spiegel shares terms other researchers have used such as "digital creators", "digital worker", and "digital gamer". I see the merit of each of these but am still unsure of where I would categorize myself or my students. There is an overlap and intersection of many of these terms while still lacking on how technology is being used versus how we intend to use it.
Prensky was able to create a label for a new phenomena that not many knew how to react to. However, there are many elements, as outlined above, that do not hold true throughout time. Spiegel challenges the ideas created but she is also unsure of what we should be called, if anything. Technology in the classroom, and technology with children in general, is constantly evolving and if we do not yet have the answers, we should at least try to find the words. Our children are growing up in an unprecedented world in many ways. The internet and everything it has brought with it has changed the landscape of childhood and of education. Spiegel and Prensky are asking the right questions and putting up the challenge of naming what none of us yet understand.
I like the idea of their maybe being tiers to digital nativity -- I think it would make a lot of sense for their to be a spectrum of aptness with digital forms and technology as opposed to a binary. I also really appreciate the point you raise about the technosphere when we were growing up. Not only was there a lot less access but I think because of the newness, parents were having a lot of conversations about Internet safety-- as much as they knew about it. I'm curious as to whether parents of current young kids-- who could be considered digital natives themselves, have as many conversations with their kids about digital safety and how to navigate technology. If I had to guess, I would say no, not only because the Gen Z and Millennial -Gen Z generation of parents are so close to technology themselves but also because of how readily available tech is. How do parents have conversations with their kids about the use of AI if they do not fully understand how to use it and the dangers of it? How do we educate parents to understand more about the tech that they aren't as adept with so they can continue to support their kids?
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you pointing out and bringing forward that the students you work with, and the children we all work with are equipped with tools that they are not fully trained on using. A tool without proper training in theory can become a weapon, and in many ways our youth that are navigating this new tech space and are at risk of stagnation and digital harm in ways.
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