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=**Data Tools for Technology **= " These 'digital natives' are born into digital technology. Conversely, their teachers (and all older adults) are 'digital immigrants.' " //** Prensky, M. (2008). Adopt and adapt: Shaping tech for the classroom. Edutopia: The George Lucas Educational Foundation.

I selected this quote because I was drawn to the word picture that it presented. I found it very enlightening to think of my students as "digital natives", born into a land of great technological opportunity. We all joke about letting our 3 year old program the VCR for us, but I never considered myself as a "digital immigrant." It conjures up images for me of the Pilgrims coming to America and finding the Indian natives living here. Thankfully, they were willing to share the rich resources they had in their possession. They taught the pilgrims how to fish, grow corn, and farm the land.

I like to think of myself as rather tech-savvy, but the truth is I have never really had any formal training in using computer hardware or software. Taking the self-assessment made me realize just how little I actually do know. My approach to learning new technology has always been accomplished by either trying to figure out problems on my own or enlisting the help of others, usually my peers. I am a true "immigrant" when it comes to technology. Using these terms has helped me to realize that I can enlist the resources of my students in integrating new ideas that will in turn help them learn better.

Today, as I was working on my assignment, I enlisted the help of one of our tutors, an international student, to help me discover how to add a navigation button to my Powerpoint presentation. One of my students is always wearing an Ipod. This week I asked him if sometime he would show me how it works. A huge smile came across his face. His goal is to increase his GPA this semester. It could be that he is holding the key to getting better grades in his hands.

Final Word: To sum up the thoughts shared on this quote, I see two main points of agreement. 1. As "digital immigrants" educators are at somewhat of a disadvantage and frequently feel threatened by the "natives" in the area of digital technology. For the most part, we recognize that we have much to learn and could benefit from developing a more reciprocal relationship with our students. 2. Students are a rich resource of information and are willing to share what they know. Consulting them will not only enhance our own knowledge and skills, but will also serve to make us better teachers and communicators.

I agree that the students need to be more involved in the process when integrating technology into the classroom. As Prensky states "The only way to move forward effectively is to combine what they know about technology with what we know and require about education."

My background is not in education so I have a tough time relating to some of the comments made here on the discussion board. I do have experience working in supervision though. What I have learned from the workplace is that management has to listen to the staff on the front line. They interact with the customer on a daily basis and they have a much greater awareness of what will and what will not work. Often the best ideas for implementing needed changes came directly from the staff or from conducting customer satisfaction surveys and discussion forums. Listening to the staff and the customer allowed them to be a part of the creative process and made them more likely to accept the needed changes and ultimately reach the goals that we were trying to achieve.

Once again to quote Prensky, "We cannot, no matter how hard we try or how smart we are (or think we are), invent the future education of our children for them." Students must become more involved in the process and we need to take on the role of facilitators in order to make it happen.

I enjoyed reading this conversation and comments. Somehow I thought I posted my comment and just discovered it was deleted. This is very frustrating but I will try to recap my thoughts again.

One of the frustrations that I am faced with in working with college students is that many times they seem to suffer from a severe case of A.D.D. when it comes to giving full attention in conversation with our staff members. I can be sitting across the desk in a planned one-on-one meeting with a student and either his cell phone will be ringing, or he is texting, or he has ear buds from his ipod hanging from his ears. They seem to be **digitally distracted** at all times. As Prensky puts it "They live in an incredibly fast-moving world significantly different than the one we grew up in." I feel this is a good example that exhibits how growing up in a world where technology is such a vital part of their lives can limit a student's ability to socially interact with others.

Having learned about digital technology later in life, I still have some **//ancient//** ideas about etiquette and showing proper respect to elders or people in authority. I often think that if I were an employer interviewing the person for a position, I would be tempted to say "Next, please!" I feel that we are remiss if we teach our students how to use technology but fail to teach them how to interact socially with others in an appropriate manner. I agree with Prensky when he writes, "let's not just adopt technology into our schools. Let's adapt it, ... until we reach the point where we and our kids truly feel we've done our best."



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