Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

In the article Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants I felt that I agreed with the idea that we need to find new ways to bring in our students into learning. Finding ways to teach through a video game. I think I would consider myself a Digital Immigrant because even though I was introduced to things like the super nintendo, gameboy and the first flip phone, I was always late when it came to gaining the items. Even our first computer that my family bought was pretty late. But I applied myself in learning more about the digital world. I know in some areas I am totally tech savvy and could help someone else, like the basics of Facebook and the internet. But when it comes to the newer social media sites and games that are beginning to come out I feel a little lost and i tend to feel like i have much more new material to learn and cover. It doesn't mean I'm not willing to learn because I am willing. Its just that if I don't really see the use in learning it then I won't make the time for it. Technology is a big part of my life, I have a cell phone, I play video games, I have facebook and these are the items I use to connect to other people and to do whatever I have to do.

I think that its a great idea to be able to try and incorporate learning in a "digital" way. Like using a video game to teach certain concepts, things like math or even geography. Especially now living in the generation that we live in every child around the age of 10 or maybe even younger has some type of electronic. from a feel phone to a video game. So children and even the newer generations are requiring and asking for newer materials and ways to have the materials be taught to them. I did find it amazing how (Prensky 2001) talked about how some subjects will remain important to learn but how some of it like (Euclidean geometry) will be less important and like greek and latin might need to be taken out. Things that I couldn't help make me remember how certain students from youth in action were talking about why we need to learn certain subjects and why is beneficial to us. They wondered if some of the materials that we learn in school will come in handy when going out into the real world and using them in every day practices like their first job or at home.

I also think that the school should rethink what is important and what should be taught. Because I think there are many people who agree that certain subjects just shouldn't be taught anymore. In Wesch (2007) video the machine is us/using us, I was reminded of my first experience in using the web and how over the years that has changed. I once saw a video on youtube called Teens react to 90's internet reminded me on how much times have change, the electronics and all electronics we were probably used to growing up. But over the years we help shaped and change the internet as Wesch(2007) suggests, we are the internet and all the information we put into it. We have the ability to change things, rewrite information, add new information. All the items that appear on the internet today is part of all of us, our likes, our interests our hobbies, we have shared them with others and over the years others have adapted them, added them and changed them, so they've grown. Now we should find new ways to use that information, to teach the newer generations and to be able to still teach but keep the children interested. I have seen first hand how a child can learn when you try to teach them using their tools.

Im a sunday school teacher and the children I teach always want to be on their iPads, their Ds and all their little electronic devices. So when i used to teach them bible stories the old fashion way, writing and drawing certain things on the board, they found it uninteresting and they were bored. once i started bring my iPad and started teaching them by using the bible kids app, they seemed more prone to learn and they remembered what they learned. Because they see it as playing a game then just sitting in class listening to someone talk. That's why I feel like i agree with Prensky and feel that we need to find new ways to incorporate some of the 'old' teaching and adding some of the 'new' technology that exists today.