Week 8 - Harvard Style Academic Article Links.

Website 1 - Cheong, P (2008) “Investigating Internet use and Problem Solving behaviours of Young Adults in Singapore.” The Young and The Techless? Vol 10. http://www.swetswise.com/FullTextProxy/swproxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnms.sagepub.com%2Fcgi%2Freprint%2F10%2F5%2F771.pdf%3Fxdata%3D212219220116&ts=1236717425304&cs=3641694702&userName=5845157.ipdirect&emCondId=5845157&articleID=38393175&yevoID=2347498&titleID=144954&referer=1&remoteAddr=212.219.220.116&hostType=PRO [09/03/09]

Website 2 - Livingstone, S. Bovill, M (2000) “Young people, New Media.” http://www.mediacultureonline.de/fileadmin/bibliothek/livingstone_young_people/livingstone_young_people.pdf [09/03/09]

Website 3 - Ito, M (No Date) “Mobile communications: Re-negotiation of the Social Sphere.”
Mobile Phones, Japanese Youth, and the Re-Placement of Social Contact http://www.itofisher.com/mito/archives/mobileyouth.pdf [10/03/09]

Website 4 - Livingstone, S. (2003) “Children’s Use of the Internet: Reflections on the Emerging Research Agenda.” New Media and Society. Vol 5. Page 146 – 166. http://nms.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/5/2/147 [10/03/09]

Website 5 - Anonymous (2008) “New Media Age” Page 10. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=36&did=1488064121&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1236704336&clientId=57096 [10/03/09]

Week 8 - Abstract 5

Although a short article, this article gives researched statistics implying the growing disinterest of young people and the news. From this article the internet and mobiles could be seen as distracting young people away from using new technology to source information, and possibly with the large variety of social aspects etc on the internet, neglecting finding out world wide issues. However, television is still a top source of gaining news, but how long will this stay like this for?

Week 8 - Abstract 4

The article highlights the risks with the ever advancing internet, and how the advancements are playing a larger role in the lives of young children more than ever.
Studies show that in the U.K double the amount 7-16 year old use the internet compared to the populations of adults. (Wigley and Clarke 2000) Therefore the risks within the internet are expanding, and more likely to affect the young users of this new media. Thus, the article highlights factors of identity, communication, interaction and participation within the internet, and also the digital divide of the internet.

Week 8 - Abstract 3

This journal specifically looks at the impact of mobile phones in different areas of society, e.g. – “home, classroom, public spaces… space of peer connectivity enabled my mobile phones.” It has been high-lighted that there are a variety of cross-cultural likenesses when it comes to using mobile phones. With the author looking at Japanese culture specifically it demonstrates where the ‘Upgrade Culture’ rapidly exists within the world. With interviews with how the population of youth use their mobile phones, ‘even in lessons’ show how this type of technology has become a large important factor of youth’s everyday life and how they adapt this technology to meet their every day needs. There is also the element of connecting people in different places, therefore meeting the need of the geographically immobile, which enhances the convergence of different elements within technology to help advance society technologically.

Week 8 - Abstract 2

This journal looks at children and the effects of new media in general on young people and how the different media has different effects. It highlights how young people adapt themselves to the uses of the different types of media by taking each medium separately with occasional reference to digital divides among British families. By looking at the different types of media and effects enables the author to pinpoint different ‘characteristics’ that come from the new media, and how they effect different areas of social lives, enhancing the impact of new media on society.

Week 8 - Abstract 1

The author here is looking at the fact that “digital natives” like everyone else gain their technological understanding through practice, specifically to research done in Singapore with reference to the digital divide. The article’s finding questions the ideology of young people being so technologically advanced, without the influence of socio/demo/psycho-graphic influences. The article identifies that there may be secondary digital divides playing a role.

Week 8 - Websites used for Task 3

1 - http://feedraider.com/item/4288852/Connectivism-Blog/Digital-natives-and-immigrants-A-concept-beyond-its-best-before-date/

2 - http://technologysource.org/article/digital_natives_digital_immigrants/


3 - http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EQM0627.pdf

4 - http://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2009/opinion/are-digital-natives-a-myth

5 - http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-The_Emerging_Online_Life_of_the_Digital_Native-03.pdf

Week 8 - Task 1 - What is Digital Immigration?

Digital immigration is the notion that “previous generations” aren’t technologically able in the sense that they haven’t been brought up surrounded by new media, therefore new media hasn’t shaped their lives. Mark Prensky constructed this concept, and it’s conflicting notion ‘Digital Natives’, which refers to newer generations and the fact they have been surrounded by technology since they’ve been born. Therefore they are more likely to source information from the internet, in comparison to those of older generations who will source from books and print orientated media.

Prensky believes that Digital Immigrants are incapable of teaching Digital Natives as they are out of tune with technology, he believes that younger generations should be taught through interactive media, i.e. video games as they would be able to grasp and get more out of teaching through that media. However, I think that Prensky is over-emphasising how much technology actually effects young people in terms of media, students will be missing out on invaluable experiences through real life education because they are seen to be more capable then they actually are. Therefore, it has to be questioned whether video game learning is as effective as Prensky claims, as there have been criticisms. There is a difference in how older and younger generations use and interact with new technology; however they aren’t speaking a completely different language which Prensky is insinuating.

To question the concept of ‘Digital natives and Digital immigrants’ further, there has always been a difference between teachers and students, surely technology is just another element of this clash of statuses. Teachers don’t necessarily grasp the latest technologies that students bring in with them to school, but this is because they haven’t grown up with it all. Is it fair to compare ‘natives’ and ‘immigrants’ when they come from different social contexts? However, technology isn’t something that as a society we will go back on which society has to accept, just like the differences there will be between pupils and teachers.

http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
2001. MCB University Press. Vol 9.

Week 8 - Article Disagreement 4

The disagreements I have with this particular article are highlighted within the text, so I've decided to expand on them. The author here refers a great deal to the digital divide, however if there is evidence showing that the ‘digital divide’ is expanding, therefore in terms of teaching how do teachers propose to keep teaching through means of the internet if there are people being deprived of the media. This particular journal fails to answer this. The internet can't be as 'revolutionary' and playing apart in 'digital natives' lifes to the extent originally said because if it was wouldn't every one be able to have easy access to the internet?
It cannot be assumed that all children are being affected negative influences which defer away from traditional sources of education (online education). As argued within the article too, the research within the ‘risks’ of the internet tend to overlook children and focus on more frequent users of the internet i.e. older. Therefore is it fair to say they are affected to the extent being expressed? I’m not for one minute diminishing the stories of the risks of what is on the internet, but the media only express the risks, alike they do with other types of going on-s in society.

Week 8 - Article Disagreement 5

One of my major disagreements with this article is the fact that the statistics given are from an anonymous source. However, although the statistics given do mirror what is seen to be happening between new media and society, is it a reliable source? Is it too much of a “wide assumption” to link these statistics into what is basically a negative view on the effects of new media on young people. Could it be biased in using the statistics to manipulate the thoughts that are already existent on the stereotypes of young people and how new media isn’t necessarily a positive integral part of their lives.

Week 8 - Article Disagreement 3

This journal has a disadvantage because it although cross cultural effects are distinguishing it is still solely based on the Japanese culture. Therefore it is only specific to a culture that is renowned for fast moving technologies. There is also the fact that younger audience are going to be more inclined and more easily influenced by technology because it is part of a younger culture. Older generations are more aware of the fact that mobile phones are ‘new’ therefore may be less disposed to be influenced by the new media.

Week 8 - Article Disagreement 2

One disagreement I have with this journal I looked at is the extent to which the author believes that virtual interaction doesn’t ‘necessarily’ challenge face to face relationships. Whereas I think that there is a change where students will become more inclined to use online interaction compared to IRL because of the convenience of it all. As we have discussed in previous blogs, I maintain there is a large impact from online interaction which effects meat space communication. However, the journal is from 2000, which is nearly a decade ago; therefore the effects may not have been as apparent.

Week 8 - Article Disagreements 1

This article is an example of technologies advancing in societies. It states in this journal that ‘growth rates’ of internet advancements are stabilising. Therefore is this resulting in users of the internet advancing at a more stable rate in relation to this? Moreover, this study gives a satisfactory amount of evidence yet is only looking at Singapore and therefore isn’t representative of young people and technology as a whole. As mentioned in the same article, but as a counter point… Even though younger people are supposedly more able with technology they do still look up to elder people for help when they are stuck, i.e. in a teaching environment.

Week 8 - Website 5

The author acknowledges that there are Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants, but furthermore recognises that technologies are aiding both notions, but in different ways in which they can still maintain their status as ‘student’ and ‘teachers.’ This acknowledgment shows how technology advancements affect both in different ways. However, the counterpart still does imply that teachers are at a disadvantage, but is that just because we are more aware of being influenced? Therefore, because people are more aware of being affected, they are less likely to let it happen. Is technology having the same effect on trying to influence and shape us all as a society? Yet students have been surrounded by the advancements running parallel with their own.

Week 8 - Website 4

This article gives evidence that students aren’t as technology as it has previously been expressed. Therefore questioning whether Digital Natives are existent or not. As an up to date source there is a perspective which is of the most current within social issues. Although this article assumes Digital Natives don’t necessarily exist but how are students who are born now, who will be learning high education in 20 years in relation to technology? This is furthered by the quote “exaggerated, pop sociological accounts of student abilities to do little to enable young people to develop and practice these skills.”

Week 8 - Website 3

This article doesn’t look specifically into a counter argument for Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants but does highlight some elements within areas of new technology enabling users of the internet, including both teachers and students to just the internet more conveniently. The developments of society, and this article gives elements for “teacher to consider their possible used in the classroom.” One of these is being demonstrated now, i.e. blogs. Also, identified are elements such a produserage, i.e. Wiki’s “Web-publishing tools.” However, as discussed in previous weeks, there is the question of validity of these elements. There are also factors mentioned, “Voice over IP, Social bookmarking, and Social networking.” This is an example of social determinism as teachers are being using technological developments as aids. However are these sources as good as meat space alternatives? Could this article be trying to justify the internet as a means to educate?

Week 8 - Website 2

This article disagrees with distinguishing between Digital Natives and Digital immigrants as there needs to be reference to the developments of technology with the education system. The author would argue that society is “largely subjecting them to a mode of thinking (linear, certainty based) that is at odds with how they (students) experience life.” The article being discussed is up to date, but is only from one particular point of view. It doesn’t take into account the fact there needs to be preparation for students being educated, and aren’t we a great deal more dependent on technology these days, and wont we continue with being more so dependent on it? It has been argued that the internet allows for different things to be taught but isn’t it just the same material, in a different way which others are finding hard to grasp? Although the article can be criticised it does still allow for it to be used to see a counter part to Digital Immigration. It does enhance how out of education, students are more inclined to use new media as a social source, not just through education.

Week 8 - Website 1

Within this article the author questions the extent to which Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives can be distinguished, as well as the extent to which a generation actually changes. It has been assumed that generations with as little as 10 years between two people cause them to speak in a different ‘language’ so to speak. As long as students are being educated, doesn’t that allow for the same amount of education in any situation? “Thinking is engaged by activities, which can be fostered by computers or teachers.” As long as students are learning in the end, is their a major problem? One quote, “The technologies used to support such asynchronous communication are not flashy or fast-paced” demonstrates that societies developments aren’t as radical as initially portrayed. However, this article is from 2003, therefore a few years ago. Therefore, could how ‘radical’ the internet is seen have had more of an impact on society 6 years ago, and now we have become more used to the changes, and how technology has become revolutionised.