The oldest digital native I know is one of my friends from home, who goes to another University. They solely depend upon the internet to go about their daily lives; they use text messages and Facebook to interact more than they do it real life and use their laptop to make notes within a lecture. I think that my friend would fit into Prensky’s definition because the internet is her main source of information; she neglects other forms of information orientated media unless she really has to.
Prensky’s definitions are solely based on age, which isn’t applicable to everyone. Although not classed as a digital native, my granddad who is nearly 80 can text on a mobile just as quick as I can, and also uses the internet a considerable amount. He would quite possibly use the internet before going for print based media to find something out because it is just as convenient for him to look on the internet, as it is for digital natives.
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I think we're all beginning to lose faith in Prensky's seductive hypothesis aren't we?
ReplyDeleteAs is so often the case, a theory which seems insightful turns out to be 'somewhat useful' rather than 'really useful' when looked at from several angles (helped by several authors).
Still let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. The notion of being immersed in new media, and hence learning certain expectations -not shared by others (a high proportion of whom will be beyond student age) is another potential 'divide' we should be aware of isn't it?