Digital Native/Digital Immigrant Como!

I believe myself to be a combination of both a Digital Native and a Digital Immigrant. I grew up surrounded by technology, but I am not always a competent user of it. I use the Internet daily to complete homework assignments and also for personal use. I listen to music online, I check my email often, and I use social networking sites to stay connected with friends. I like to receive information quickly. One of the characteristics of a Digital Native is just that: "Digital Natives are used to receiving information really fast. They like to parallel process and multi-task" (Prensky, 2001). Although I have these resources at my fingertips, there are times when I prefer to gather information from printed text, or allow my mind to wander while reading a book.

During my high school years, we did not use technology often. I remember the quiet hum of the overhead projector, but my classrooms did not have computers of their own. We read textbooks and printed articles. There were multimedia classes offered by the business department that required the creation of power point presentations and short animation videos. These classes were electives, often reserved for upperclassmen. Students were excited to use the computers to complete assignments.

My arrival at college was when technology became a central part of my life. I took language classes in my first years that used computer programs to teach vocabulary and pronunciation. Many of my professors used Power Point presentations to aide their lectures. One course, Intro to World Music, consisted only of watching videos of musical influence from around the world. We never discussed the videos in class, but were required to write a poem about feelings evoked from the film.

I believe that in college, my learning was enhanced by technology. The extra time that I spent in the language lab listening to people speaking Spanish greatly improved my own skills. I was receiving an extra hour of practice each week outside of the classroom. Intro to World Music was an interesting class. I learned a lot about different music cultures but there was little time for reflection, aside from reading our poems out loud.

A problem that Marc Prensky addresses is the lack of reflection when using the new technologies to educate students. He writes, "One of the most interesting challenges and opportunities in teaching Digital Natives is to figure out and invent ways to include reflection and critical thinking in the learning (either built into the instruction or through a process of instructor-led debriefing)" (Prensky, 2001). My teacher, who was near seventy years old, knew that we students would be interested in the films shown in class, but he did not make the connection with us through the use of reflection. He let the films do all of the talking.

These articles have opened my mind to different ways to use technology in the classroom. Although I see the importance of engaging students through means they are familiar with, I do not believe that we as educators should solely rely on these resources. Books will always be a staple in my classrooms. The Internet is a valuable tool for students when it is not overused. When used in conjunction with critical thinking, reflection, and discussion, there are many forms of technology that can enhance the learning experience for students.

As a social studies teacher, I like to incorporate first hand accounts into the lessons. The Internet is a great place to access many of these in a short period of time. I also believe in the use of music in the classroom, and the Internet is a place to access many different scores.

To conclude, though I see myself as a combination of a Digital Native and Digital Immigrant, having up to date knowledge of technology will help me to relate to my students in many ways. With my knowledge, I can help them access information using both the Internet and book sources. Showing students how to use both of these resources will provide them with skills that they can use in later classes.

Although I do not always want to comply, it is important to keep up with technological advances. Prensky finishes one of his essays with a very insightful comment on the notion of Digital Immigrants. Rather than turn a blind eye to the advancements, Digital Immigrants can instead, "...accept the fact that they have become Immigrants into a new Digital world, and to look to their own creativity, their Digital Native students, their sympathetic administrators and other sources to help them communicate their still-valuable knowledge and wisdom in that world’s new language" (Prensky, 2001). As long as teachers understand that the methods of transmitting information are changing, there is still room for engagement in the classroom.