Digital Natives versus Digital immigrants

    When we stop and take a look at the world around us it is no secret the role technology plays in our daily lives. From checking our emails and sending instant messages though social media it is substantial in our lives. Marc Prensky came up with the terms digital natives and digital immigrants to describe the difference of technological literacy difference between different generations (2001). According to Prensky the immigrant and native divide is the gap of technological advancement where half the generation grew up learning without technology and the other half is advanced in technology. This has caused a division of learning for many reasons according to Prensky. One of those reasons being students brains no longer think or function the same as the older generation. Growing up with all the technological advancements has created students who find it hard to learn class material the way the "digital immigrants" teach it.

    Prensky says teaching needs to change to include these advancements in order to help these students be able to learn properly. Kirschner on the other hand disagrees with Prensky's findings. He talks about how being "digitally native" doesn't means one is "digitally literate". When he says this I think he is saying just because someone grew up with technology does not mean they have skills or the ability to learn efficiently through technology. This person may know how to navigate through social media and games, but they may not know how to properly communicate and work online. I think they are both right in their findings. I have personally seen the difference in those who know how to use technology and those who don't and I think it is good to implement technology in learning, but only to a certain extent where students don't rely on internet exclusively to learn.