More than myth
While the study was obviously extensive, there was a huge failure to incorporate an entire generation; the under-20s. They are the only generation who have been brought up with technology as second nature and are the complete epitome of Prensky's 'Digital Native'. Had the study encorporate this age group you would have found that the majority use technology for educational purposes without even realising; there is a generation gap, and failing to acknowledge such is to fail an entire generation. Technology is the future, people need to learn to think differently in order to prepare the younger generation for a future we can't even comprehend. Twenty years ago no one would have imagined things like the iPhone, and with the speed of technological advances now it would be irresponsible of us not to accept that today's primary children are being brought up in an entirely different world from us. I think Prensky was ahead of the times, and while the generation divide may not be noticeable in large degrees from 20 upwards it most certainly is from 20 down. This needs to be acknowledged because as you said it has massive implications for education.
This is a comment on "Open University research explodes myth of 'digital native'"
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Under 20s
1
Thursday, 18 August 2011 09:24
kal
Again, though, you're mak,ing an assumption about the under 20s. And, I suspect, simply using, or being comfortable, with different tools, does not necessarily imply a different kind of mind or way of thinking.
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