21st century learners

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

Plus-

• Today's students are the first generation to live with digital technology from birth and that they have spent their lives so far surrounded by computers, video games and other digital tools. 
• There is a specific language associated with this technology and that there is a difference between those who grow up with the technology and therefore the language (Digital Natives) and those who have adopted the technology (in all or bits and pieces) and developed a different associated language (Digital Immigrants).
• There is a need for the teachers of today to learn how to communicate effectively in the language of today's students. 
•  Adaption of current materials for learning need not be recreated from scratch.

Minus-

• Digital immigrants think fun is not a part of learning.
• Digital immigrant teachers are making assumptions that students are the same as they have been and therefore they do not adapt or change the methods they use for teaching students today.

Interesting-

• A language learned during a later stage of life is stored in a different part of the brain.
• The difference of language between natives and immigrants is obvious to the natives.
• Digital natives prefer graphics before text.
• Students of today are capable of completing tasks such as building a computer, however the main problem is having teachers who can teach this.
• Not only is it a problem to learn new stuff but also learning new ways to do old stuff.  Which is harder to achieve?
• We need to create digital native methodologies for all subjects and all levels.  To achieve this it is suggested that students are involved in the process.

Engage Me or Enrage Me

Plus-

• The children of today are engaged in something in their lives.
• There are still students today that want to succeed in their education.

Minus-

• School is unengaging for students of today.
• The learning experiences today's students are being given is stale, bland and from the past.
• You cannot capture the attention of today's students the old way, even if you are an engaging old-styled teacher.
• Students of today are enraged that we are not doing better by them.

Interesting-

• Today's students find the gadgets in their backpacks more interesting than their schooling.
• Kids today enjoy their games which offer opportunities to be masters and  leaders and encourages them to encounter, explore, build and research.

My reflection


From these articles I can see a trend which shows today's learners have a nature which consists of needing on the spot information, frequent encouragement, information presented at a faster pace, access to more digital tools or equipment to maintain focus, opportunities to advance their learning in a digital framework  and modern creativity.


In relation to the engage or enrage article, I feel that there is a divide between what is being offered and what could potentially be offered in terms of education.  Perhaps the digital world can answer some of the problems for some disengaged students, but access to this resource needs to be overcome.

21st century learners are different to the generations of the past and this must be acknowledged by those people who will be constructing their education pathways.  If we used pencils because they were more functional than ink and quill than why not consider the technology of today as functional tools for this generations learning journeys.