Digital Natives

So, this week we have been set the task of carrying out research on the term ‘Digital Natives’ using Google, Google Scholar and the University of London Online Library. Without knowing or heard of the term prior to my research I decided the best place to start would be on Google. Google kindly presented me with a short summary of what a digital native means / refers to.

“The term digital native was coined and popularized by education consultant, Marc Prensky in his 2001 article entitled Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, in which he relates the contemporaneous decline in American education to educators’ failure to understand the needs of modern students.”

Although a quick Google search gave me a decent background knowledge and understanding on this term, it was however mainly websites and articles and blog posts. With a mixed bag of outdated and current results. It did how ever make me understand that I would (or do) fall under this categorisation. The internet is my first point of information and maybe 99% of the time, my only source of information.

Google Scholar on the other hand, mainly presented me with research papers and books. Similarly to the Google search, it too presented me with a mixed bag of outdated (2004, 2006) and current results. I did find the result from Google Scholar a little more credible due to the nature of the results (research papers / books). The research papers were mostly done by educational institutions trying to prove or disprove the term and its credibility. The University of London Online Library threw up similar results to Google Scholar.

It’s rather difficult to decide which source is the best. Often, if not always, I believe it depends on the type of research begin carried out. If it’s a quick search for information to gather some background knowledge then Google search would be the best bet; as often what you find on there are websites, blogs and short articles. For more in-depth information I believe Google Scholar or the Online library might be a better choice.

Learning in the digital age

The first task we have been set as part of the TiDA course is to talk, briefly, about learning in the digital age. In this post, I will outline some of my personal views about learning and the digital age; as I believe even though related they are still treated as two different elements of our lives.

The first personal computer by IBM – 1981

Hearing the term ‘digital age’ I think back to the early 2000’s / late 1990’s back when I first had a real exposure to a personal computer. Thinking about it in more detail the digital age started many, many years before then (1950/60s). The only difference between the 1950’s and now is that the technology has become firstly, much more advanced in a very short period of time. Secondly, it has become an integral part of our lives and most of us don’t even realise the amount of technology we use on a daily basis.

When it comes to the term ‘learning’ the first thought that pops into my mind is education. Which unlike the digital age has been around for a long time. As we know the progression of technology has been enormous. On the other hand, education, well that’s not changed much at all. Its only in the past few years that education is trying to implement technology deep within its teaching.

I am under the belief that education and technology are playing a cat-and-mouse game. One that with courses such as TiDA and the people behind such initiatives and interests, can be won.