The terms Digital Native and Digital Immigrant are used to create a mythical divide between those able to use digital technology, and those who cannot. The terms were first introduced in 2001 by Marc Prensky and have been used by academic and students. The use of the terms segregates the younger generations as good at technology and older generations as poor with technology and ignores fundamental ideas about teaching and learning.
With the introduction of the terms into academics by Prensky in 2001, it has been a staple argument in various different debates. The terms were used to help clarify the concept of a digital divide between the current generation of students who had grown up around computers, and an older generation who had not. Within the essay he states, “But Digital Immigrants typically have very little appreciation for these new skills that Natives have acquired and perfected though years of interaction and practice.” (Prensky, 2001, P. 4) It is clear that times have changed, as we no longer prescribe to the industrial age of teaching and learning. The modern 21st century learning environment has created a new generation; however, it hasn’t left other generations in the dust either. Prensky also picked up on this idea and in a 2012 article states that “Digital Immigrants learn—like all immigrants, some better than others—to adapt to their environment, they always retain, to some degree, their “accent,” that is, their foot in the past”. While Prensky has used the terms over the years their use is very debatable. Describing all generations as either good or bad at technology ignores fundamental ideals in teaching and learning. In fact, there are countless articles on how older generations are embracing digital technology including the use of iPad, Facebook and Skype. Personally, my parents, aunts and uncles have tablets, smartphones, use Facebook, snapchat and other forms of digital technology and social media. I would not call any of them digital immigrants. Hargitta (in Jenkins, 2016) states that “When we employ language of “Digital Natives”, we fail to recognise the development of skills necessary to be engaged in participatory culture”. Digital Technology and social media are not simply for Millennials, and generation Y students, who have grown up surround by it. Having two stated categories ignores so much about how individuals learn and grow. Stating that you are a Digital Immigrant seems to be used more of an excuse not to try, instead of giving it a go and failing. While in academic circles it is a much-debated issue, I will leave that to those far more qualified than I am. I think far more careful use of the terms is needed as being a Digital Native verses being a Digital Immigrants seems to be a mythical idea. References Jenkins, H., Itō, M., & boyd, d. (2016). Participatory culture in a networked era : a conversation on youth, learning, commerce, and politics . Cambridge, UK ;: Polity Press. Prensky, M. (2012). Digital natives, digital immigrants. In From digital natives to digital wisdom: Hopeful essays for 21st century learning (pp. 67-85). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press doi: 10.4135/978148338776 Prensky, M, (2001) "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1", On the Horizon, Vol. 9 Issue: 5, pp.1-6, https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816
4 Comments
Paula Shaw
10/12/2018 10:50:20 pm
Hi, thanks for sharing some insights into the terms digital native and digital immigrant. I found it interesting that you implied a sense that calling someone a digital immigrant was in some way derogatory. As a Gen-Xer, I happily embrace the term of digital immigrant for myself and, as per Prensky’s description from his 2012 article, believe that those of us who have grown up not being immersed in digital technology, do have to “learn”. Most likely we digital immigrants do our learning in more intentional and less “playful” ways than those who have learned their tech skills as a by-product of engaging in the popular culture of their childhoods. I don’t believe that the term is in any way an excuse for non-engagement with digital technology, rather it is a recognition of the reality of rapid technological transformation which has occurred over the past forty years.
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10/13/2018 05:02:14 pm
Hi Miss McCarthy :)
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Amy Fischer
10/13/2018 06:01:56 pm
Hi Miss McCarthy,
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Miss McCarthy
10/17/2018 12:58:37 am
Hi Everyone,
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AuthorI am Miss McCarthy a Multimedia, ITS and History Teacher. I am also an aspiring Teacher Librarian. Archives |