Are digital natives a myth or reality?

‘Are digital natives a myth or reality?’, the question is based around ‘digital natives’ which is referring to the new generation of society today which have grown up with technology embedded in their everyday lives. (Prensky,2001) refers to them as ‘native speakers’ of this new digital language society. The key themes found in this driving question include what digital natives are and are they a myth or a reality today. Personally, I believe that digital natives are a reality due to the generation we live in today and how we have grown up with a technology-based lifestyle. However, one could have the opinion on this question being a myth.

My opinion and feelings towards this driving question have continued to stay the same before and after the research was conducted. The research found by (Prensky, 2001) supported my opinion that digital natives are a reality due to the technology-based world we live in today.

The strengths within this driving question and believing that digital natives are a reality would include the research found from (Prensky, 2001) which states that today’s generation has grown up technology their whole lives and that this is now a new way of learning when compared to the older generation’s ways. However, one could argue the weaknesses of this driving question and how not everyone around the world has same access to this advanced technology that we have and continue to use old ways of teaching and learning. This would support one’s beliefs that digital natives are a myth as well as research found by (Kirschner & De Bruyckere, 2017) stated that there is no such thing as a digital native that is information skilled, that they cannot multitask and that they have never experienced a world that was not digital.

The underlying assumptions behind my belief that digital natives are a reality as it is assuming that everyone has equal access to the same resources for learning. This is a false accusation to make as there are some places that are less fortunate and do not have the privileges of accessing the same technology for learning.

In conclusion it could be said that digital natives are a reality, due to today’s advancement of technology that is used in everyone’s daily routines and how it has been embedded into the new ways of teaching and learning. Then again one could argue that there is not an equal access to this new way of life all around the world supporting that digital natives are a myth. However, my overall position to this driving question is that digital natives are a reality, after using the (Gibbs,1988) Reflective cycle, research, and my own personal experiences to support my opinion. I will need to continually improve my use of technology to know the new ways of teaching and learning so that by the time I am I teacher I will have these skills to help engage my students by using this advanced technology.

References

Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by Doing: A Guide to teaching and learning Methods. Oxford: Oxford Further Education Unit.

Kirschner, P.A, & De Bruyckere, P. (2017). The myths of the digital native and the multitasker. Teaching and Teacher Education, 67, 135. The myths of the digital native and the multitasker - ScienceDirect

Prensky, M. (2001) Digital natives, digital immigrants’ part 1. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1-4. Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1 - ProQuest Digital Natives,