Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

Digital Native helps Digital Immigrant
by: lanadmr
                          

I am a digital immigrant; that is my aha moment from the readings!  Having completed my first year as a media specialist in a middle school, I found myself saying (many times) “When I was your age…”  I had to actually GO to the library to do research; I had to actually BUY the MLA Handbook; when I was a freshman in college, I actually had a typewriter!  But my junior year, we got a computer lab, and I immediately saw the benefit of typing papers using WordPerfect (which by the way, I taught myself.) instead of using my typewriter and white out (you digital natives probably don’t know what that is!)  I did have to use floppy discs :)  I think I was probably 30 years old when I got a cell phone, and six or seven years later had a smart phone.  I distinctly remember having a conversation with a friend about how cool it would be to have (affordable) internet access on your phone.  It’s hard for me to believe how quickly the world has changed.

My video is a true story; I had to build a website for my class last semester, and I was getting so frustrated.  I finally asked my son to help, which he did, very capably; I was quite impressed, and thankful.  Technology can be very frustrating to me, but at the same time, I love it, and I see the importance of teaching and using it in the classroom.  Solomon and Schrum  (2007) state that "today's students will change jobs more often than their parents did, and each new job may be unrelated to the last" (p. 42).  Students need skills that help them "think, adapt and continue learning" (p. 42).  According to Prensky (2006), “learning has got to change if we want confident, creative thinkers capable of both convergent and divergent thinking” (p. 45) .  As an educator, I need to be using technology to create confident and creative thinkers.  My other a-ha moment was Picasso’s quote, “Every act of creation starts with an act of destruction” (p. 45), quoted in Prensky (2006).  We cannot continue to teach the same ways; the world is changing quickly, and we need to keep up!

References

Prensky, M. (2006). The emerging online life of a digital native. "Don't bother me Mom, I'm learning!": how computer and video games are preparing your kids for twenty-first century success and how you can help! (pp. 40-51). St. Paul, Minn.: Paragon House.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Students and learning. Web 2.0: new tools, new schools (pp. 25-44). Eugene, Or.: International Society for Technology in Education.

Introduction

Hi Everyone!

I'm Lana and I just completed my first year as media specialist for Lynhurst 7th and 8th Grade Center in Wayne Township, Indianapolis.  I have my MLS (IUB, 91) but am getting my teaching license with a school library media certificate.  I worked as a reference librarian for the Indpls Public Library for several years before I stayed home with my three kids, now ages 14, 16, and almost 18.  Technology is not my strong suit, (hence the title of my blog!) but I have learned a lot in my previous classes, and my first year on the job.

                                 
Here's a few pictures of me and my husband para-sailing on vacation last week!

Looking forward to being in this class with you all.