My students are a mix of ages, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and technological abilities. Given that my students are mixed in their technological abilities, I need to cater for a variety of learning styles, include a variety of modes of delivery (including face to face delivery), model good, purposeful use of Web 2.0 technologies, and involve those students who are highly technologically literate, to work with me in supporting those who are not. In order to do this effectively, I need to create a safe space for learning.
I found the readings regarding the digital natives debate both interesting and illuminating. Bennett, Maton and Kervin (2008), discuss the moral panic that has been generated regarding the ‘Net Generation’ or ‘digital natives’, (those born between 1980 and 1994), who supposedly possess a “sophisticated knowledge of and skills with information technologies” (p. 777). McNeely (2005) continues with the theme of Net Gens somehow being more gifted when it comes to their use of technology. What I found fascinating was the feeling of panic rising as I read McNeely!
I found McNeely (2005) making very broad generalisations that were not helpful to the debate, including discussing the digital natives (or Net Gens), as if they were born to work cooperatively and collectively; having done ‘team work’ since kindergarten. My point is - we all learn to communicate from the time we are born – but how well we do that is another matter. Communication and team work skills are not ‘natural’; they are skills that need to be constantly developed and improved upon. The Net Gens are not necessarily gifted collaborators. This is an assumption that requires further exploration.
I also thought that the article by Bennett, Maton and Kervin (2008) was a good one. The big problem with a lot of the debate is the over-generalisation. There is too much stereotyping.
ReplyDeleteI loved the comment about how generations throughout the ages have always faced some form of new technology (Bennett, Maton & Kervin, 2008). I remember (in about 1984) standing in a friend's loungeroom and listening to a CD. He was thrilled with this new technology. The CD player was about as big as a small record player (for those NetGen colleagues: google 'record'!!), and the sound was fantastic. We were all overawed by this technology. In a few short years, CD's are passe, and we have moved on!
ReplyDeleteSo...we all have to deal with some sort of technology shift at some time in our lives; all generations have been confronted with this issue.
I agree Sheena. I am still fascinated by how fax machines work, not to mention all the other technologies that have been invented.
ReplyDeleteGerlinde says....I wonder how important it is to understand newest technology versus living life to the fullest and if there is any thing that connects the two? e.g. the light globe, the telefon, the fax.....easy to use not important to understand underlying mechs, the computers???? easy to use????? important to understand them to some depth??????
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