Eugene's Part A

What are Characteristics of digital natives?
1) Children raised with the computer 'think' differently from previous generation of children. They develop 'hypertext minds, leap around, and that their cognitive structures were parallel, not sequential.'

So apparently linear thought processes that are part of educational systems apparently retard learning for these students whose brains have been brought up on game and web-surfing processes.

These children would be good with mind-maps, pictorial representation in their minds,responds better and faster to 'expected and unexpected stimuli'.

These children crave for interactivity. And are not to be mistaken for having short attention spans. It's simply that the old fashioned way of thinking bores them terribly. So they choose NOT to pay attention.

The cons- Students have lost the ability to reflect on their experiences. This is because they need to be interactively engaged in activities, and multi-task. Reflections require someone to pause and think through their experiences, which is what a digital native has trouble doing.

Digital Portrait----
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-justin-video

Justin is 16, and would fit the bill of a secondary 4 student in a Singaporean school. I could identify with Justin, because he has a similar background to mine in terms of early computer introduction and interaction.

My contract school also offered animation, and 3-D modelling in school. This gave an avenue for students to explore expressions through the medium of an animation program.

Most singaporean students now also have exposure to technology just like Justin. Most children have their playstations and Nintendo DS-es by the time they are in Primary school. If we could incorporate technology and educational game play into curriculum, this would be an advantage for we could be 'speaking' their language. We cannot use linear ways of teaching or front loading anymore. We have to start using interactive ways to depart knowledge and engage our digital native students. Whether this has to take place on a gaming platform, or gaming methodologies.

And yes i'm guilty of being addicted to World Of Warcraft too in my earlier years fresh out of University. Just like Justin i spent a night or two playing it without sleep.....