Earlier this summer semester, you read:
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants – Part II: Do they really think differently? On the Horizon, 9(6). Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
McKenzie, J. (2007). Digital nativism: Digital delusions and digital deprivation. From Now On, 17(2). Retrieved from http://fno.org/nov07/nativism.html
Reeves, T.C. (2008). Do generational differences matter in instructional design? Online discussion presentation to Instructional Technology Forum from January 22-25, 2008 at http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper104/ReevesITForumJan08.pdf
The main take aways from these readings included:
- while the theory of generational differences exists and is a valid theory, there is no research at present that indicates instructional designers should modify instruction or instructional strategies to accommodate today’s generation of students
- there is no reliable and valid research to support the belief that technology has somehow changed today’s generation of students
- further to the fact that Prensky’s notion of digital natives isn’t based on research, McKenzie does a convincing job of illustrating how Prensky even misused the anecdotal “evidence” that he presents to support is beliefs
- the only thing that can be said about today’s student, based upon reliable and valid research, is that they are more narcissistic than any previous generation
However, even faced with these realities in almost every semester where I use these three readings there are multiple students – often the majority of students – who still believe that the students they teach are fundamentally influenced by digital technology and it has changed the way that they learn in the classroom.
As educational technologists, what did you take away from these generational differences readings? How would you handle a colleague who bought into the notion of digital natives?
Please post your response to this prompt ON YOUR OWN blog. In addition to your response, you are asked to leave comments on at least three other students’ blogs. As always, you are asked to respond to those who leave a comment on your blog.
12 Unique Blogs Are Written By Professors
Virtual School Meanderings 
It’s A Simple Process – Right?
Earlier this summer I reread an article by Marc Prensky regarding the idea of today’s students being “digital natives” – learners who have individually spent 10,000 hours playing video games and 20,000 hours watching television by the time they leave c…
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Grandma, What is a Record Player?
Many people laugh when they hear these types of sayings from young children, even teenagers these days. It is one of those things in life that makes you feel old because that type of technology is no longer around. Right now, think of five things in yo…
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Generational Differences [Prompt 1]
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants – Part II: Do they really think differently? On the Horizon, 9(6). Retrieved fromhttp://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf McKenzie…
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In response to this question based on readings about generational gaps I can both agree and disagree that there is a difference in the way things are taught and learned today. But I feel that this is true not because kids today process information diff…
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Digital Natives? Digital Nonsense!
In response to this question based on readings about generational gaps I can both agree and disagree that there is a difference in the way things are taught and learned today. But I feel that this is true not because kids today process information diff…
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Is Technology Changing our Brains?
This week in my EdTech 537 course, we are asked to address this question. I have already given my thoughts about these articles in an earlier blog post found here. If a colleague came up to me and expressed belief in the notion that our current student…
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Instructor’s Prompt: Examining Generational Differences
What did you take away from these generational differences readings? As an AP Statistics teacher, albeit one with one year of experience, my first concern is regarding the references for all three articles. The article by Marc Prensky, Digital Natives,…
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Examining Generational Differences
Responding to Michael Barbour’s blog, Examining Generational Difference, while there is no valid proof that changed today’s generation students, I can ask my 5 year old nephew to watch a show with me and he will go to the iPad, not the TV. That is just…
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On Generational Differences
In 2001, Marc Prensky published an article “Digital Natives Digital Immigrants” that asserts the major differences between Millennials or Generation Y and the rest of the population. A major claim that our assumptions about young people and how they le…
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Examining Generational Differences (Commentary Post)
A few weeks ago, we EDTECH537 students were asked to read the following articles: Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants – Part II: Do they really think differently? On the Horizon, 9(6). Retrieved fromhttp://www.marcprensky.com/writin…
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Narcissists and Microwaves
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Is Technology Changing Our Brains?
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The Newest Generation: Digital Natives, or just a Tech-Savvy Bunch?
Note: I’m still digesting the idea of digital natives. I think I have been all year! :) One second I agree with something Marc Prensky says, the next second I’m entirely in disagreement. This blog post reflects my discombobulated thought process, and i…
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Let Them Be Creative – EdTech 537
For My EdTech 537 class we were asked to read three articles. The first was by Prensky, the second by McKenzie, and the third by Reeves. In each of the these readings, According to our professor, here are the generalizations that came out of them: 1. w…
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Generational Differences
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Digital Natives And Generation “Me”
Editor’s Note: This blog is also used for my Blogging in the Classroom course which I am currently taking at Boise State University. So, from time to time there will be posts unrelated to Interior Design. Enjoy the comments. More Interior Design posts…
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