1) What are some characteristics of digital natives? (What are they good at? What are they poor at?)
I enjoyed the TED talk by Sugata Mitra, and it quite frightened me by how children of the current generation are able to manage the computer, the Internet, and to find information and gain knowledge on their own without even the guidance of the teacher. However, I suppose that I should NOT be frightened by this, but instead to keep up and move ahead.
I was reading Prensky's article, both Part 1 and 2, and wondered if I am too in fact considered as a 'digital native' as well, as the term is referred to those who are probably 0-20+ years of age.
I was reading Prensky's article, both Part 1 and 2, and wondered if I am too in fact considered as a 'digital native' as well, as the term is referred to those who are probably 0-20+ years of age.
What exactly are Digital Natives, and their counterpart, Digital Immigrants?
According to Prensky, the influx and rapid distribution of digital technology in the last decades of the twentieth century has evolved the students today as they are no longer the same as the students of the past. The students now have already spent their entire lives being surrounded by and naturally using computers, having the latest phones, playing video games, listening through digital music players, working with video cams, and having all other toys and tools of the digital age. Thus as a result of this global technological improvement in the environment, and the utter involvement or interaction with it, and allowed today’s students to think and process information differently from the students in the past.
However, those who were not born into the digital world but have at some later point become involved with and have embraced many or most parts of the new technology are referred to as Digital Immigrants. Digital Immigrants think differently and may even speak in different digital languages from Digital Natives and they did not grow up with the same technological toys. Therefore there is a quite broad gap between these two generations.
Digital natives progress greatly and are going to a much further distance in their learning experience as they are able to keep up with the latest digital tools and they are able to gain knowledge on their own. Information is becoming much easier to find on the Internet and tools allow easy access to these information anytime, anywhere. The tools allow them to expand their imagination and creativity, and multi-tasking becomes less of a task – as with new technologies, more could be done!
However, with the rush of the digital advancement, students become impatient and less attentive (as they only want to focus on what interests them). As they spend most of their time wired in front of the computer screen and engaging with people through the net, they tend to cultivate bad habits and manners with others as they may not spend enough time socialising or interacting with others on a face-to-face basis. The overload of information and the easy access to various resources may also cause our students to become overwhelmed and disorganized if they are not able to manage well.
According to Prensky, the influx and rapid distribution of digital technology in the last decades of the twentieth century has evolved the students today as they are no longer the same as the students of the past. The students now have already spent their entire lives being surrounded by and naturally using computers, having the latest phones, playing video games, listening through digital music players, working with video cams, and having all other toys and tools of the digital age. Thus as a result of this global technological improvement in the environment, and the utter involvement or interaction with it, and allowed today’s students to think and process information differently from the students in the past.
However, those who were not born into the digital world but have at some later point become involved with and have embraced many or most parts of the new technology are referred to as Digital Immigrants. Digital Immigrants think differently and may even speak in different digital languages from Digital Natives and they did not grow up with the same technological toys. Therefore there is a quite broad gap between these two generations.
Digital natives progress greatly and are going to a much further distance in their learning experience as they are able to keep up with the latest digital tools and they are able to gain knowledge on their own. Information is becoming much easier to find on the Internet and tools allow easy access to these information anytime, anywhere. The tools allow them to expand their imagination and creativity, and multi-tasking becomes less of a task – as with new technologies, more could be done!
However, with the rush of the digital advancement, students become impatient and less attentive (as they only want to focus on what interests them). As they spend most of their time wired in front of the computer screen and engaging with people through the net, they tend to cultivate bad habits and manners with others as they may not spend enough time socialising or interacting with others on a face-to-face basis. The overload of information and the easy access to various resources may also cause our students to become overwhelmed and disorganized if they are not able to manage well.
2) Which portrait did you select? (In your blog, create a link to the portrait.) In terms of their digital background, how similar was that student compared to a Singapore student?
I chose Virginia (14 years old).
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-virginia-video
Like Virginia, many students in Singapore may start to diligently use the Internet in the upper primary - lower secondary, and signing up for social networks such as facebook. The students then may start too spend too much time on these Internet sites and have allowed technology to consume themselves instead of actually living in their real world.
Virginia has reacted maturely by seeking back a balance in her life between technology and an actual active social life. Students in Singapore too need guidance in managing a balanced life and avoid cultivating bad habits of Internet or gaming addiction.
3)How might teachers in Singapore today engage and teach our digital natives?
Teachers can seek for various resources and online tools to engage students to learn and work collaboratively for their respective resources.
Some resources are as mentioned in my previous post. However, teachers must also ensure students know, understand and remember rules of being cyber-healthy. Teachers should always encourage students to expand their knowledge and creativity with the tools available but also remind them of being balanced in time spend on the computer and their behaviour towards others. From the video of Virginia, she used the application Woogi World to teach students of cyber-safety/ cyber-wellness.
Woogi World : http://www.woogiworld.com/
Part B : The Digital Natives Future
1)As you look into the possible future of the educational landscape, what sort of impressions, fears, or possibilities crossed your mind?
Video Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfV4R4x2SK0&feature=player_embedded
3)How is NIE preparing you to prepare your students for this possible future? How might you prepare yourself?
I chose Virginia (14 years old).
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-virginia-video
Like Virginia, many students in Singapore may start to diligently use the Internet in the upper primary - lower secondary, and signing up for social networks such as facebook. The students then may start too spend too much time on these Internet sites and have allowed technology to consume themselves instead of actually living in their real world.Virginia has reacted maturely by seeking back a balance in her life between technology and an actual active social life. Students in Singapore too need guidance in managing a balanced life and avoid cultivating bad habits of Internet or gaming addiction.
3)How might teachers in Singapore today engage and teach our digital natives?
Teachers can seek for various resources and online tools to engage students to learn and work collaboratively for their respective resources.
Some resources are as mentioned in my previous post. However, teachers must also ensure students know, understand and remember rules of being cyber-healthy. Teachers should always encourage students to expand their knowledge and creativity with the tools available but also remind them of being balanced in time spend on the computer and their behaviour towards others. From the video of Virginia, she used the application Woogi World to teach students of cyber-safety/ cyber-wellness.
Woogi World : http://www.woogiworld.com/
Part B : The Digital Natives Future
1)As you look into the possible future of the educational landscape, what sort of impressions, fears, or possibilities crossed your mind?
I do fear that I might not be able to keep up with the 'native language' and technological tools available. However this is a fear I must and will be able to overcome by exposing myself to various resources and to get comfortable with it.
2)What might living, learning and working be like in the future?
2)What might living, learning and working be like in the future?
Technology should not take over our lives completely, but it should be used to ease our learning experiences and make available to us a wider resource and opportunity for creativity to grow. As we become deeply involved with the digital world, there might be more possibilities of lessons being attended from home or through computer sites where students and teachers may not have to be present in a normal classroom, but through a virtual classroom instead.
Life would probably be even more fast-paced than it already is, therefore it is very important to be able to manage every information and still lead and encourage our students to have a balanced life. Technology is becoming a necessity in our lives, but we must not lose touch with the real world.
On another note, just like how the arrival of photography has turned the art world upside down, I am also anxious and excited at the same time as how future technology might also change the way we make and look at art in the future.
Video Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfV4R4x2SK0&feature=player_embedded
3)How is NIE preparing you to prepare your students for this possible future? How might you prepare yourself?
The modules that I am attending in NIE are co-related where our assignments and activities are mostly done, submitted, or collaborated online. Resources such as presentation, links and notes are available online and we are all able to access them at any time, any place.
Students in the future might also be learning or attending lessons virtually and the NIE modules has allowed me to practice the habit of being active online.
I must also prepare myself by constantly updating myself of the latest applications and resources that are available- for teaching AND for art.
Resources:
http://sue-on-education.blogspot.com/2009/06/still-on-module-2-digital-natives-and.html
http://scienceoftheinvisible.blogspot.com/2008/12/digital-native.html
http://www.doseofdigital.com/2009/04/healthcare-marketing-needs-some-digital-natives/
http://neilballinger.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/digital-native/
https://the21stcenturyeducator.wikispaces.com/
http://claytonacton.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/the-digital-native-and-the-digital-divide/
You were frightened by the kids in Mitra's videos. I was inspired by them!
ReplyDeleteLoved the image of the foetus and the phone. Now THAT is scary.
Overall, it's work nicely done. I'd add that you should attribute the images that you use (if you are allowed to use them) like the way I do in my blog.
One question: Do you consider yourself to be a digital native or immigrant?
I was frightened because I am not sure If I could keep up with them seeming that they progress alot faster than I did when I was a student.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think I am among the generation of the Digital Natives, I some what consider myself as an immigrant. Perhaps although I enjoy simple technologies that make little chores much more at ease, I get little excitement with new gadgets. Also, while I enjoy some online tools or applications, my desire to keep it going does not last long. I still work with hardcopies instead of retyping or re-editting on the computer, and I do not really live within the computer, as much as my friends do. However I do try to keep up with the surroundings. I think I can manage well if I try hard enough, I am just unsure if I am as fast as the learners depicted in Mitra's videos.
Haha, I do want to give credit to the images I have used but I'm not sure how to do it the way you did, in your blog. I did however added the links in the resources. Do I need to seek their permission to use their image for non-profit purposes? If i do, what if the images were posted by anonymous authors that have also used the images without any credits?
If an image is copyrighted, you cannot use it without persmission. Typically this includes comics and images where there is a clear "terms of use" page on the website.
ReplyDeleteYour first move should be either to seek permission or to use non-copyright or CC (creative commons) licenced images. The first method takes time and is something you can opt to do if you really need that image.
The second option is faster to do. This might mean searching non-copyright image repositories or using CC search engines. I use http://www.imagecodr.org/search.html to search for images and then to get the code to embed the CC licence under it. You can also try http://search.creativecommons.org/
This is important to do when you are publishing on the web. It not only gives credit where credit is due, you also model positive behaviours for your students.
Thank you for the information Dr Tan!
ReplyDeleteI have removed copyrighted images and embedded the resources where required.
I hope this is okay?
I will definitely be more wary of the images that I publish in the future.
Thank you again for the links!