A family friend of mine is 35 years old (Bill) – therefore Prensky would describe him as a ‘Digital Immigrant.’ I am 20 years old - therefore I would be described by Prensky as a ‘Digital Native.’ However Bill has more technological knowledge and capabilities than me. He also has a need for technology more than me, for example the minute the iPhone was available, he had one. That’s not to say I wouldn’t want one, but the ‘newest’ technology isn’t something I would say I keep religiously up to date with, unlike Bill.
Therefore, Prensky’s opposite notions have been swapped around in terms of defining Bill and I, and surely this isn’t just an odd example. When it comes to Prensky’s definitions, was he too specific? And also too prominent in expecting ‘digital natives’ to immediately be technology whizz’s? as I’ve previously mentioned in last week’s blogs, maybe it doesn’t matter what age you are in terms of being able to grasp technological concepts, but older generations will always be aware of the fact they are being influenced therefore will be more conscious to resist?
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You are right in suggesting that older generations will always be aware of the influences from younger generations.
ReplyDeleteI do not think Prensky based his notions particularly on age, but do you think there is a 'cut-off' age at which someone can be an immigrant or native, or is is purely based on the individual?
From reading peoples blogs I think it is purely based on the individual, as there are examples of people within an age range of a few years, but with completely different views when they are supposedly all 'digital natives.'
ReplyDeleteDo you think that 'gadget freaks' and new media professionals cut across the native/not divide?
ReplyDeleteOr is it just that Prensky's generalisations were unfounded and ill-researched? Video games have been around since the 70's and in many respects are fairly unchanged since the 80's. This could mean that some kids could have been 'natives' who are now 30-40 yrs old?
Bill Gates is in his mid 50s and he's been working with computers since he was 13 I think. Many middle aged (men) have grown up with the digital realm -at least since they became technical professionals of one sort or another. Does Prensky have much to tell us of relevance to these "immigrants"?