“The Civic, Social and Multi Modal Lives of Digital Natives”

Chapter 4:

“Digital Natives are used to receiving information really fast. They like to parallel process and multi-task. They prefer their graphics before their text rather than the opposite. They prefer random access (like hypertext). They function best when networked. They thrive on instant gratification and frequent rewards. They Prefer games to “serious” work.”

(2001a, p2)

I really enjoyed this quote from chapter 4. It says that Digital Natives are used to receiving information really fast. I think that society in general has gotten use to receiving information really fast. I feel that anyone today if they wanted information about something wants the information right away, so the first thing that happens is they just on their computer, Ipad, Smartphone, on another device and go straight to the internet for the information. This day and age hardly anyone goes to a book for the information especially Digital Natives. We want the information almost pretty much handed to us. Why not if Google just does it for you.

I can also relate to another part of this quote where Digital Natives prefer graphics over text. I would rather get information from pictures than reading texts. It may be that I am just a visual person, but I feel that Digital Natives do prefer graphics. I feel that you can especially tell that this true because on social medias and other websites they are always filled with photographs with very little text or if you are interested in the story that the photo is portraying you can click to read more.

Lastly, it says that Digital Natives thrive on instant gratification, frequent rewards and want games instead of serious work. As a current school teacher I see this on a daily basis. Teachers are always trying to make learning more fun by making learning into games or adding some kind of hands on activities to keep students on task. A lot of schools also have reward systems in place when students are doing what they are supposed to or excelling at their work.

Chapter 5:

“By emphasizing the discontinuity of generations and “singularity”. Parents and teachers fear that they can no longer fully understand or control children and young people.”

            When I came to this part of the chapter I found it really interesting that they used the word “fear” or “panic.” That one day that children and young people will pass everyone up in the digital/ technology world. Yes, I feel that sometimes older generations have a harder time learning new things, but I do not feel that it will be out of reach for others to learn. I feel that it is the parents and teachers responsibility to keep up on new technology and digital media. I also feel that there are parents and teachers out there that are completely unaware of what young children and people are doing and that could be a problem.

Chapter 6

“The essential nature of traditional skill development for students further indicates that today’s students are not so different from previous generations: they still need to learn the same basic skills.”

I really liked this quote from the reading. I feel that a lot of people today make the comments today how different young people are or “this didn’t happen back in my day.” Our society may be different from back then, but the young children today still need the basic skills like the older generations. They may just be learned in a different way. Today’s learners need to be introduced to new material in ways that they know like through the use of technology.

 

\

 

 

 

My meme shows what I feel life is like today. When we have young children they are drawn to technology and we often give them some sort of technology to play with to help them be good in public or just to keep them entertained. They are comfortable with technology growing up with it and then as they grow up and own technology themselves its almost like its glued to their hand. They are lost without it.