Rise of the Super-Digital Native | Marcus T. Wright - 12 views
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Everything starts with the digital natives of today.
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If we can set them up for success, that will bring us one step closer to those super-digital natives who will flip this world upside-down with what they will have to offer.
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The great thing is that the digital natives of today will teach the next generation. That generation will learn from today's digital natives and practice better ways to critically engage in technology for teaching and learning.
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I think we must teach our current generation to sift through the multitude of Apps and critically assess there value added. What do you think?
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I agree but the process obviously needs to have some sort of structure. Aside from that when are we to teach them this material? How are we to teach them? I think it is a great idea that a shift needs to take place but is it really needed for some? Some of the younger learners have adapted well and could possibly not need a shift because they make those modifications on their own. What do you all think?
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I do not think we need to teach this technology application skill in an isolated teaching moment. All teachers need to understand the technological environment these students will face and help them develop skills that will help them sort though the multitude of applications that are out there and apply them to solve real world issues.
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I think we need to walk a fine line between the old and new, when it comes to technological advances. We have those that are completely opposed to technology, then we have those that are 100% using all technology available. From what I have been seeing more and more, these super-digital natives might sift through all technologies with ease, but they are lacking in basic life skills (face-to-face communication, effective writing skills other than abbreviated text garbage, and other similar issues). A prime example is my coworker's college son is an absolutely brilliant computer programmer, but the young man can't construct a sentence in front of people to save his life. I'm concerned that we might be shifting too far too fast into technology, yet letting other necessary skills (that might not be tech-driven) fall by the wayside. Hopefully, teachers can help them walk that fine line before it's too late to learn these skills. Okay, my old man "back in my day" rant is over...
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If you were to ask any digital immigrant perspective about growing up with no computers, cell phones and no high speed internet connection. I do not think they would feel disadvantaged teaching the super digital natives. Grant you the digital natives of today will probably teach the super digital natives of tomorrow. Somehow, I think the instruction would have evolved because of the progress made by the digital immigrants and not the digital natives of today. I can still recall the calculators that were huge, noisy and clunky in my computer class categorized as state of the art at that time. What is state of the art of today will be paper weights of tomorrow.
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Technology is certainly becoming more and more a part of our society and something that we use daily. It has advanced so much in so little time. The explosion of Twitter and Facebook has allowed us to receive information and spread information so quickly. I do feel we need to prepare our students for the future and the advances in technology. However, I don't know if we should put all of our eggs in that basket per se. I still feel there are other critical skills unrelated to technology that will always be a necessity no matter how advanced technology becomes.
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The students of today sure have taught me a lot about the use of technology for recreation, but little about the use of technology for education. They have great ways to avoid education using technology, but not necessarily how to incorporate it into their educational processes. I believe that they can guide us through the rapidly changing technological educational traverse and we can instill in them proven pedagogues and methods. My college students were asked several months ago to present an ethical dilemma to the class. I told them they could use any platform, but Powerpoint. They whined!!! They know all these cool Web tools but can't incorporate any of them into their presentation. That's where I come in. This is not a technology class, however a teaching moment is a teaching moment. As soon as I begin talking about different platforms and ways of presenting, they jumped at the prospect of using the tools they knew. In the end the presentations were superb and I learned some really great tools to put in my own arsenal. My point being I think that each of us learns from modeled behavior. I can learn from their expertise and they can learn from mine. It is all in the approach and willingness to learn.
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Sean, I agree about the super-technology natives do lack some of the social skills needed in our society. Here is a great interview with a millennial who begs to differ. I thought it was a great debate over the subject. Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com
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Sorry the video did not embed. Here is the link http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2849237531001/millennials-lacking-interpersonal-skills-street-smarts-to-get-a-job/
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Amanda, Yes I agree with you. Its amazing how Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to name a few have taken over society as a rapid form of communication. It never seems to amaze me how fast people get updates or how involved they are with what is going on in todays society and its all because of the new form of communication out there. It has certainly change from how it was in the past. It never seems to amaze me how kids know so much about it and how much they know about these networks. However, I see this is just the beginning as time progresses there are more networks and more options out there to choose from. I personally like how technology has evolved through the years and can not wait for the future to see what else is new. I have learned you just adapt and roll with the punches. Technology is here to stay! Jose Davila
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Technology is evolving at an enormous pace and I believe those who choose to be educators must somehow get it front of it and at lease help guide student learning with the aide of technology. I would hope the digital natives would have an easier time with it, than us old immigrants.
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Technology has indeed become and everyday occurrence and Amanda is right, we should not put all our eggs in one basket. I don't think we should go all out and use just technology. I think that we should integrate technology into the curriculum as much as possible but not fully convert everything into digital format.
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I think that this is just the way of the world. The super digital native transcended from the digital native, who came from the novice digital native...if you follow me. Every generation is different and lives with the environmental limitations that exist within that time frame. The millanials of today are of a different mindset. I think of some of the more difficult sudents in my class, and how it's like pulling teeth to get them to want to learn in the classroom. However, just mention of going down to the technology lab to learn gets them all riled up. As educators we must allow our students to use the mediums that they are most comfortable with. I grew up loving taking exams with paper and pencil; they would rather take their exams on a computer. I guess if I would have been born during the technologoical boom, paper and pencil exams would seem repulsive to me. As the article mentions, "we need to know what makes them tick." I totally agree with that statement. Not all students learn in the same way, but research has shown that technology/ computers and the internet can make intrinsic learners out of students.
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Additionally, the folllowing website showcases an article that speaks on the topic of digital natives. These technology savy workman are taking over the workspace. We live in a society where communication is wanted at a fast rate. Hope you enjoy the article: http:www.dqindia.com/dataquest/analysis/175608/digital-natives-taking-over-the-workplace Hope you enjoy reading the article.
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If we can set them up for success, that will bring us one step closer to those super-digital natives who will flip this world upside-down with what they will have to offer.
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It is okay to take baby steps, but you must keep on pushing the envelope to move forward. What are some of things can we do to help our natives move forward?
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I have always believed in team work but with great quality. I feel investing quality time with each other in a work environment, organization and even as a town can lead to great movements. Project based learning and Problem based learning is a way to collaborate and start an environment with quality team work. Like the Marines you must start from the ground up but everyone that is part of your surroundings needs to possess the same or similar skills as you. Cross training, project development, extensive training and mentoring and similar interventions.
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I understand the concept of tearing them down and building them back up, but I'm not sure the public school system is suited for that approach. The issue is their is no filtering in our system (entrance criteria, both physical or mental). You have to teach whoever walks through your doors, no matter what baggage they bring (socioeconomic status, learning or physical disability ...), They all have a different frame of reference on which we need to build their knowledge on. It is a hard job and I believe it will only get harder as technology skill "have and have nots" creates a greater gap.
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Chris, Team work is a great way to allow everyone to progress. Although individual learning has its benefits, I think working in teams gives us all different perspectives and enables us to learn from each other. For example, I think the EdTech program does a great job of incorporating project based learning in an online environment. As a team, we work towards solving real world problems or addressing any real world challenge.
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Chris, The possabilites are there, and it's only a matter of time when virtually everything will be dependant on digital natives. Working as a team definitely helps spread knowledge of the technology out there, and I noticed that team members that were more tech savy had more responsabilites. It's not fair, but those with more technology skillls will be the ones always in demand. I think that in order to set up our students to be successful we must use Web 2.0 technology in our classroom to make sure that computers and the internet are always available and not an option.
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Felipe, You bring up a good point. The haves and the have nots has always been an issue in this world. But through public programs and school funding it seems like more and more students regardless of their social economic status are having more access to technology. Ofcourse, it does not match up to the students that have computers in their homes or computers set within their own classroom environment. However, I feel that we have made a lot of progress by supporting even low socio-economic students. However, I do agree with you. But I feel that communities should really focus on trying to find alternate ways to fund more money into technology programs and maybe even purchasing computers for students if they meet grade expectations.
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Lucretia, I definitly see your point. The students in my class seem to try to avoid technology, if it has to do with edcuational topics. It feels like you almost have to trick them at times to make them engage the lesson. They are great at using technology and want everything fast, because computers are fast. As educators we need to find ways to motivate our students and yes- trick them if need be into learning. Yes, we definitly need to model our behavior for our students and get them intrested in other technological platforms.
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If you can imagine this, if you agree that it will take a couple of generations before we really figure out the best ways to use technology for teaching and learning, there is still something you can do.
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I can't completely agree with this statement. I must say that a lot of us feel that we must catch up to technology but I don't agree. I don't feel it needs to be us that upgrade to technology but technology upgrades to our needs. Yes, we must learn how to use them in and out of the classroom but we tend to learn quickly whether you are in the baby boomer generation or the x,y,z generation. I feel we all learn at different rates but I don't think it matters what generation you are in. I do agree that we will always have more and more technology that we must learn but with evolution comes success. Teaching is one zone and learning is a different zone. Teaching is always going to evolve and we are always going to utilize the "new" tool in order to make it work. I don't think it will ever just be technology or one simple tool. I believe that history will always play a role. Plain textbooks and the chalkboard are still in effect today. I believe that as technology changes we should focus on what the learner needs and not the change of technology. Yet, I must say that teaching and learning in regards to technology is different. I feel that teaching will utilize technology a lot less than learning. I feel that learning will become more dependent on technology as it is easier, faster and comfortable for the learner. Teaching and learning will be impacted and dealt with in different forms by different people in regards to technology.
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I agree Felipe! the problem I foresee is the fact that the current generation (millennial' s) are so saturated with technology that I do see pockets of what I call Evaders of technology on the raise. One example I can give is during our department's job fair event last month I was surprised to discover there were a few students that did not have a Facebook account nor felt an attraction for digital technologies. Unlike, most of the peers that have immersed themselves in technology and probably use on a daily bases technology to communicate with others if this becomes a trend who will then train the super-digital natives?
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While I agree with you Felipe, I do see Jaime's point. Some people are just not as attracted to technology as others. Maybe it is to daunting to them or they just can't afford to keep up with the trends or maybe some people just don't want to be found on the internet (for example: in a Google search). In the end, our society is a technological one and like it or not that is the shift that is in the process. Eventually, everyone will have to jump on the bandwagon and learning how to use technology.
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Fabulous article Felipe. I especially like this: "The digital natives of today are the ones who will be pressured to take all of the present technological wildness and make it make sense for the next generation. They are the… super-digital natives who will flip this world upside-down with what they will have to offer." I still remember when I used to type research papers using a typewriter (oh, boy, I must be really old and outdated!). Well, not really. Today, I am reaping the benefits of the generation before me. Today's generation is reaping the benefits and pitfalls of my generation, and so it goes. My generation was also very creative with the resources we had at the time. What I am trying to say is that every generation will have challenges and opportunities. We must learn to proliferate with the changes. There will always be technological gaps between generations. It is the responsibility of each generation to find the potentials for the technology available at that time. Furthermore, those in educating the next generation must use the technology to support educational endeavors and integrate it in the classroom.
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Jaime, I think you are right about the overwhelming amount of technology applications out there. The acceptance and reluctance to those technologies seem to be as much personality driven, as generational. I believe what we can do as educators is to help guide students through the process of evaluating a need and selecting an appropriate technology solution. I think the biggest motivator encouraging the use of one App or another is satisfying their initial need to socialize. We need to lead them to the productivity Apps that will help them academically and as they enter the workforce. I think technology use picks up exponentially when you can demonstrate to students that the technology skills they acquire through daily life application is transferable to meeting their career goals.
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Daniel, I believe that those we are unable to reach in time to help them onto the fast moving train of technology evolution will be at a huge disadvantage. The reality is it is only going to go faster. One of the things I advocate is for leveling the playing field by making technology available in schools and providing teachers the support for implementing the technology, whether it be training or time to participate in Personal Learning Communities (PLC). Without our help, students may wake up some day and figure out they missed the train.
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Rene, I understand where you are coming from and it seems like just yesterday. I was one of those that was ill prepared for college and when the requirement for a typed research paper emerged, I quickly found alternate means of accomplishing the task. In my mind, I never expected to have to do much typing or research once I entered the Army. Well that did not play out as expected and as I work on my third graduate degree, I still struggle. I almost missed the education train, had there not been a teacher that said it was never to late and worked with me to get me onboard. We do have the wisdom on our years that that our students do not. We have to find a way to motivate the next generation to embrace technology, look ahead critically and seize every opportunity the future may bring.
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Daniel, It is true that whether people like it or not, technology is becoming a huge part of our society and will be here to stay. I know there are still people out there that are not comfortable using technology, have fears in using it, or just don't like it. One of my friends refuses to switch to a smartphone and has stuck with her basic cell phone for years. I've heard that pretty soon only smartphones will be available. I think this will likely happen with other avenues where you will need to have a Facebook account or access to a certain app in order to accomplish some basic tasks.
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Rene, While I am in the same generation as you and your typewriter, sometimes i feel like we give this generation a little too much credit for being tech-savvy. "It is clear from recent research that there is significant variation in the ways in which young people use technology, suggesting that rather than being a homogenous generation, there is a diversity of interests, motivations and needs. So while some young people might be regarded as 'digital natives', these are by no means characteristics shared by all young people simply because of their exposure to digital technologies." This study done in 2010 suggests that, "The idea that technology changes our lives profoundly is so ubiquitous in public discourse that it has become almost cliché. Both within and without the academy claims abound that technology is changing more rapidly than at any other time in human history. Often such claims convey a sense of urgency, pressing us to keep up with changes and raising concerns that some in our societies are being left behind." Beyond the Digital Natives' Debate http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2330&context=edupapers
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Daniel, Hello! Technology is evolving quickly and is constantly changing. However, people who do not get in the band wagon might miss it. I know there is still several people who refuse to learn about technology but the truth is, it's here to stay. They need to adapt and evolve with technology if not they are going to stay behind regretting that they did. In schools its important for teachers to get the necessary trainings so they can teach their students as well as learn themselves. It is very important for out children to learn about what technology has to offer and keep up with all the changes because it is the Future! Jose Davila
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It is always fun to show my college students some of the technology they used a few years ago and now have become something of the past--ex: floppy disk. The constant change of technology makes it a necessity for educators to continue to grow in the field of Educational technology. Although it is difficult to keep up it is a necessity.
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A scary and exciting article and, honestly, something I had never even considered. What would the super-digital native look like? Wow, that's truly something to ponder and have deep thoughts about. However, I believe that we should focus on how the upcoming generation is being prepared with technology in the classroom or for educational purposes. We have seen many issues with tablet integration in schools (http://www.edudemic.com/5-critical-mistakes-schools-ipads-and-correct-them/) and we may be learning from these mistakes but where is the supporting literature and research on these issues? We need to be more proactive in the documentation and reporting of solutions to these problems and not be so critical and simply pointing out the problems but instead working towards solving the greater issues. We are on the precipice of change and should choose if we want to be agents of change or of purpose. Which will you be.
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Jose, What types of things do you do in your classroom to show the progression of technology? I think this sort of lesson is a necessity to show them how fast our world is changing.
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Daniel,. I am not a teacher, but I know that in todays world it is very important to introduce technology to our kids. I agree with with you Daniel the world is changing and technology is the future in education.
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It is not the students that have issues with technology, it the teachers that struggle the most with learning new applications. Technology is constant and therefore the learning process for both students and teacher should also be constant.
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I saw some data on the phases teachers go through when entering the profession and what caught my eye was the amount of improvement that occurred after the third year. From year 4-20 it should very little, if any, improvement in teacher proficiency. Apparently it is "survival of the fittest" in action until then. It showed that those who were prepared were resilient enough to "lick their wounds" after year 1 and develop survival skills by year 3 and after that, they basically repeat what has gotten them to that point. I know we must all know some teachers that fall into that category, but the data showed that was more of a trend than an exception. The economy slowed some teachers from retiring (to avoid have to restock their tool kit), but it does seem to be picking up. I think with the social media now available that facilitates teachers helping each other to perfect their craft, this statistic has to be changing. We can only hope that it does as the needs of students preparing for 21st Century jobs and the required skills involved will demand it.
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Every generation tends to learn from the mistakes and successes of the previouse generations. The digital gap between generations is getting smaller. Many "digital immigrants" have made a concentrated effort to keep up with technology. These digital immigrants more and more are becoming the "digital natives" and will soon be "super digital native"; it's just a matter of time. All of us are learning from each other. It is clear that as we all learn and catch up, technology will become an integral part of the educational environment for generations to come.