Digital citizens navigating the "Divide"

the new digital world

“In the information and network society, relative differences in getting information and lines of communication become decisive for one’s position in society, more than in every society in history before.” (Dijk, 2003)   To be truly involved with the new age of ICT, every citizen will have to acquire some skills of digital and media literacy.  These citizens are part of an internet world, not any geographic country, and the skill sets needed include hardware and software components.   The hardware basics needed do not necessarily mean all the wires and connectivity issues, but the ability to use different devices to access the internet.  The software component includes the ability to use applications in not only consuming information but also generating information. The new trends in exchange of information will change every aspect of our lives, from the way we manage our finances, how we find jobs, to policy making in government. We have to teach our children to live and navigate in this new world.  They will need to learn these new communication skills.  Every subject in school should incorporate some technology usage, whether it is learning to create games in math, analyzing the authenticityof information in an article or blog posted on the internet, or communicating their own thoughts and ideas to share with anyone who is logged on.

This week we did a class collaborative project on our understanding of the digital divide using the voice-thread tool. I think this tool could be a lot of fun to use in class to create a variety of presentation.  Students of all ages could really enjoy this.  I also think it would be a wonderful  tool for someone who has difficulty writing.  Whether they are disabled in some way or someone who does not know how to type. They would just have to load some pictures, record their thought, and present!

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References

Dijk, J. v. (2003). The Digital Divide as a Complex and Dynamic Phenomenon. The Information Society, 19, 315-326.

Digital Native vs. Digital Imigrant

From my reading it seems to me that a Digital Native is a person who is familiar with the use of technology.  It is as familiar to them as their native language, and they can use it or learn to use it easily.  They are exposed to it as children and adapt to its uses as new technologies come to the market (Prensky, 2001). A digital immigrant is a new learner of technology. It is like a second language to them and is mastered with more effort. The two terms do not only apply to generational differences, but how each uses technology (Helsper & Eynon, 2009). Even within each category there are subdivisions “based on breadth of use, experience, self-efficacy and education” (Helsper & Eynon, 2009).

While there are no current studies done on the brains of teenagers physiologically (Helsper & Eynon, 2009), experience in the traditional way of teaching, shows that students learn better if taught by methods that they consider fun, i.e. Playing games, showing visuals, or singing songs.  Since the advent of technology, the use of interactive games, graphics, and sounds can become so real that the student actually experiences the learning. This experience internalizes that learning and at the same time makes it fun and engaging.  If the student is exposed to this form of perceiving, learning and socializing (Networking, or playing internet games with friends), that is rich and lively in presentation, then naturally he/she will be bored or disengaged when learning without it. This generation expects to access and be presented with information whatever, whenever, and wherever (WWW) they choose (Rosen, 2011).  Technology has changed how we can capture the attention of our audience or learner.

Educational environments should adapt and motivate learners, but there are many ways to use technology and not all schools have the monitory means to provide technology in every classroom.  Teachers will have to be creative in how and when to use the technology.  Not every class subject is suited for games, but some kind of interactive software should be used to make the subject more interesting. Practice of learning concepts and design of software is important (Prensky, 2001). Math classes for instance, could use software which can be accessed even at home, where the student gets instant feedback on homework or quizzes, and if they master a concept their next assignment will be more challenging.  Biology classes could use U-tube videos to show how DNA is replicated instead of just showing diagrams.  Keep in mind that “They like to parallel process and multitask. They prefer their graphics before their text rather than the opposite” (Prensky, 2001).

Using creative ways to incorporate technology in the classroom should help prevent a digital disconnect between students and traditional schooling. Students are still going to have to learn the basics of  subjects like math, reading, science and social studies.  They are still going to have to memorize things like the times tables, and facts in science and social studies, but how they understand the concepts and apply  these facts in testing and real world scenarios can be made clearer by application of the many tools in technology.  We should keep in mind  “the foundational belief that new technologies are nothing more than tools that can be used to teach the kinds of old-school skills that have been important in the academic and social growth of all children, regardless of what generation they were born in” (Ferriter, 2010).

References

Helsper, E. (2011, January). Digital Natives: Where is the evidence?. LSE Research Journal, 37, 1-18.

Prensky, M. (2001, December). Digital Natives, Digital Imigrants, Part II Do they really think differntly?. On the Horizon, 9, 6.

APA formatting by Ferriter, W. M., & Garry, A. (2010). Teaching the igeneration: 5 easy ways to introduce essential skills with web 2.0 tools. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.

rosen, l. (2011, February). Teaching the iGeneration. Educational Leadership, 68, 5.




Go to this link to see how a  fellow teacher can help another.

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/12922373/helping-a-fellow-teacher" 

About Me

I was born in Pakistan, but have lived in Indiana since I was 5 years old.  I attended Butler University for my Bachelor degree and worked at St. Vincent Hopital for 15 years.  For the past 5 years I have been teaching at the Islamic School of Indinapolis, MTI as a Biology and Chemistry Teacher.  I also do administrative duties along with teaching.
Since I work full time, I thought it might be easier to manage my time by taking an online course.  I hope that I can do it.  I have always been interested in using more technology tools in my classes, but I am not familiar with many of the latest tools, like this blog!   I have enrolled in the Learning by Design masters in Education program. 

I am not sure where this course of education will take me, considering the job market. But, I am hoping it will give me skills in both teaching and managment.