Growing Up Digital: Myth vs. Reality

Prior to reading this article The Mystery of The Digital Natives by Pasqualina Sorrentino, I had always heard that younger generations were considered “digital natives”. They know technology better than their older counterparts because they have grown up with it their whole lives. However, after reading this article I found it fascinating that many researchers do not believe this to be true. The article talked about how age is not the only determining factor of digital literacy. Experience, access, education, confidence, and opportunity all have greater effects on digital competence than just growing up with technology around you. What really stuck with me from this article was the argument that there is a “digital divide” and it does not revolve around generations. Just because you were born into a generation that grew up with technology does not mean you are proficient with it. Same goes for the older generations. This article opened my eyes to a new perspective on technology.

Do you see yourself as a “digital native,” or do you think that label is misleading?

The mystery of the digital natives' existence: Questioning the validity of the Prenskian metaphor

I also thought this was a cool video to watch:



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hi Everyone,   I’m new to instructional design and learning systems. As an elementary teacher, I am somewhat familiar with technology that supports instruction such as Google Classroom and Canva. I’m interested in learning more about how to incorporate digital tools into the classroom more creatively. As far as instructional design goes, I want to gain knowledge on how to create interactive content that engages learners in meaningful learning versus simply pushing out content. I’m also curious about instructional design and technology as it applies to the real world (edtech, online courses, training, digital learning environments).  In terms of career goals, I hope to gain skills that allow me to work remotely in either instructional design or learning experience design from a large tech company or company that needs design work. What skills are most important when trying to design interactive learning experiences?
Read more