Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants

In picture we can see children different ages engaging in technology. As children in this generation are getting older they learn to use more complicated technology. 

In class, we discussed about the terms digital immigrants and digital natives. What are the differences between the two? According to DeGraff (2014) digital natives is a generation of people who were born or raised with digital technology.  As to digital immigrants are individuals who are slowly adapting to the world of digital technology, these include grandparents, parents, teachers, and those before them.

Digital immigrants may have been the ones who invented technology that digital native used but they did not understand the use of them (Degraff 2014). Today we can see that students who have been growing in the digital native generation all spent their lives surrounded by using technology, such as computers, video games, cell phones, and other digital devices (Prensky, 2001). Its evident that individuals today “think and process information fundamentally different” (2001) from digital immigrants.

There are some controversial thoughts from digital immigrant teachers, as they do not believe that their students can learn through using technology because it did not work for them. Since these teachers were not raised in a digital world it is difficult for them to adapt to the changes the accessibility that technology can provide digital natives. Digital natives have been practicing this skill constantly as technology is a norm for their generation (Prensky, 2001). It is understandable that it is difficult for digital immigrants to fully integrate them in a new world, but it is also difficult for digital natives to turn backwards and follow traditional learning strategies.

What can digital natives teach digital immigrants? (DeGraff, 2014)

• To collaborate across boundaries, with a variety of people
• To make a place in life for values
• To build solutions that are horizontal

What can digital immigrants teach digital natives? (2014)

• To achieve goals quickly
• To use focused resources in building things to scale
• To revitalize or repurpose existing institutions

There is an irony that children who are digital natives in this generation will eventually become digital immigrants. It is how the world works (Degraff, 2014). For example, today’s fashion has been brought back from the past generations. Life is a full circle, when something becomes new it will become old over time as newer things come along.

Reference

DeGraff, J. (2014). Digital natives vs. digital immigrants. Huffingtonpost. Retrieved from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-degraff/digital-natives-vs-digita_b_5499606.html

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, vol. 9, 5. MCB University Press. Retrieved from

http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-

%20Part1.pdf

Unplag Team. (2015). Digital immigrants’ vs digital natives: closing the gap. Unplag. Retrieved from

https://unplag.com/blog/digital-immigrants-vs-digital-natives/

Technology Interaction for Children & Families - Newsletter

Technology is something that is not safe for all users, in which worries parents in allowing their child to take part in a virtual world. When parents are to introduce technology to their child/children they should focus on the safety and how it can be a safe environment in a virtual world (CDC).

Prior to introducing technology Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers some resources and strategies that can be used for educators and parents:

1.       Talk to you child.

·         This is like a parent asking their child where they are headed, it can be used in the same context while the child is surfing online.

2.       Develop Rules.

·         Create rules, restrictions, safety, and behaviours while using any source of media technology.

3.       Explore the Internet.

·         Visit, explore and access sites that are frequently use by the child to assess the pros and cons.

4.       Talk with others.

·         Communicate with other parents/educators of how they address technology to their child.

5.       Connect with the school

·         Be involved and partnered with the school to engage in school policies on electronics and resources available to support it.

6.       Educate yourself.

·         Be informed about new devices, websites, and media. Always communicate with your child and explore technology yourself, to gain the most understanding what the child is engaging in.

For more information on technology interactions for children and families, View PDF (Click Here). This PDF will lead you to a newsletter talking a bit more about the benefits of technology for young children. Below are interactive links to a few applications that can be accessed on mobile devices. 

Active Links from the Newsletter: 

Math:

Math training for kids (4 years +) – Android, Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.divmob.eastermath.game.GameActivity&hl=en

Counting Caterpillars (2 ½ years +) – Apple, iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/counting-caterpillar/id468556132?mt=8

Language:

Stories by Gus on the go, multi-languages – Apple, iTunes.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learn-spanish-stories-by-gus/id1071230980?mt=8&utm_campaign=elearningindustry.com&utm_source=%2F10-best-language-learning-apps-for-kids&utm_medium=link

References 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Kids and technology: Tips for parents in a high-tech world. CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/subtopic/matte/pdf/cdcelectronicregression.pdf

About Me & Summary

Jenny Lam

Group Name: Tech Teachers
Email: j1lam@ryerson.ca
Facebook: @jennyyang22
Pinterest: @jyangg
Instagram: @jnspire
Twitter: @jnspire_5

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/10-reasons-why-handheld-devices-should-be-banned_b_4899218.html

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics, they state that children under the age of 12 using technology are detrimental to their development and growth. With found evidence and research they state the ten issues that are problematic with the use of technology for young children. This reasoning includes rapid brain growth, delayed development, epidemic obesity, sleep deprivation, mental illness, aggression digital dementia, addictions, radiation emission, and unsustainable. ¹Rapid brain growth is influenced by the environmental exposures, with manipulation of technology use causes poor brain functioning. ²Limitation to development movements that would impact the literacy and academic achievements, specifically stating the factor of delayed development. ³Epidemic Obesity is caused among many young children due to the constant usage of technology for TV and video games. Ought to show the increase of obesity due to lack of required needs. ⁴Parents do not supervise children during use of their devices, which leads to sleep deprivation and the poor influence on academic studies. ⁵Mental illness - Technology use can cause serious impact on mental illness by causing depression, anxiety, attachment disorder, etc. ⁶Aggression is caused by the exposure of sexual and violence shown in media. ⁷Digital dementia is the decrease of concentration and memory within the mind. ⁸ Addictions towards technology and not the actual world. ⁹Young children are more prone to and sensitive to radiation emission released from technological devices. 10 Lastly, unsustainability is shown within individuals due to the attachment to technology. These are the 10 reasoning proposed in the article specifying the negative possible effects of technology use for young children under the age of 12.