Technology Tuesday: Digital Native or Digital Immigrant?

Dear New Teacher,

This week’s Technology Tuesday isn’t focusing on a specific technology, but more about technology in general. I read an interesting article not a long ago by Mark Prensky, Digital Natives Digital Immigrants. According to Prensky (2001) digital natives are “all ‘native speakers’ of the digital language of computers, video games and the internet” (p. 1). Digital Natives essentially refers to the generation of students who have grown up always knowing this technology. Digital immigrant, thus, refers to the group of people who have had to learn this new technology as they have aged. A majority of today’s teachers fall into this category.

However, a new set of teachers are entering the field-yourself included- who would most likely fall into the Digital Native category. In her article “Digital Natives as Preservice Teachers: What Technology Preparation is Needed?” Jing Lei of Syracuse University presents the results of a study conducted in which the “beliefs, attitudes, and technology experiences and expertise” of  “digital native” pre-service teachers. Lei (2009) also sought to “identify the strengths and weaknesses in their technology knowledge and skills, and explore what technology preparation was needed to prepare them to integrate technology in their future classrooms” (p.87).

According to Lei’s findings, only about half of digital natives surveyed felt they “did well with technology” (p. 90). Lei (2009) states that, “We cannot assume that this generation of pre-service teachers is a homogeneous group with the same technology experiences” (p. 90).

Using my personal experience as an example, I was trained to use such technologies as interactive whiteboards, idea processors, assistive technologies etc, however my training failed me in two areas. First, the training I received was strictly on how to use the technologies, it never incorporated subject specific examples and I was left to figure that out on my own; a task that few first year teachers have the time or energy for. Second, I ended up teaching in a school that was light years behind in terms of technology and the majority of my students came from families that did not have computers in the home.

As a Digital Native, think about your own experience learning about technology in your teacher education program. Do you feel prepared to incorporate these technologies into your classroom? If not, what could your teacher education program have done differently?

Sorry, this post got a bit lengthy- there is just so much to talk about in regards to technology!

Happy Teaching!

Mallory

Lei, J. (2009). Digital Natives as Preservice Teachers: What Technology Preparation Is             Needed?. Journal Of Computing In Teacher Education, 25(3), 87-97.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, 9 (5), 1-6.