What are some characteristics of digital natives? (What are they good at? What are they poor at?)
Digital natives, also referring to the youth of today, are good at using the computer, internet, video games, emails, instant messenger. They learn how to use the computer since very young. As such, these digital natives may have entirely different mindsets from their teachers and parents, who are digital immigrants.
As aptly put by Marc Prensky (2001), the youth of today develop hypertext minds and it is as though their cognitive structures were parallel, not sequential. Prensky also adds that linear thought processes that dominate educational systems now can actually retard learning for brains developed through game and Web-surfing processes on the computer (Marc Prensky, 2001).
Digital natives do not have short attention spans. Rather, our digital natives today prefer to engage in discussions, teamwork and hands-on projects. Marc Prensky pointed out that, contrary to prevailing perceptions, the attention spans of youth are not short. For example, they have very long attention spans for online/video games. Rather, Digital Natives crave interactivity—an immediate response to their each and every action (Marc Prensky, 2001). As such, our lesson plans have to be premised on the fact that our students will not be able to sit still at their desks for more than ten minutes at a time.
Which portrait did you select? (In your blog, create a link to the portrait.) In terms of their digital background, how similar was that student compared to a Singapore student?
I chose Nafiza.
However unlike a typical Singaporean student, she does a lot more with her skills and expertise as a digital native. It was mentioned that on top of being a regular student, she is a video producer, activist, social networker and gamer. On top of that, she helps raise awareness for Tibetan students online. 18 year olds in Singapore are currently mugging very hard for their A levels/N levels or various other exams. We will be hard pressed to find a person who is as engaged with international affairs Nafiza is. In her interview, she mentions that she has “learned so much through Global Kids, and not just about filming and editing, but also about the world and people around [her]."
How might teachers in Singapore today engage and teach our digital natives?
Most teachers themselves are not digital natives. Therefore this will take quite a bit of effort. First, when planning for lessons, teachers should consider more group based, interactive lessons and student directed learning. Second, perhaps teachers can consider ICT as an integral part of a lesson. Making use of the same ICT tools the students use in delivering lessons and in conducting assessments would better engage them. Teachers who have been in the service for long can consider going for ICT courses so as to better understand the usefulness and effectiveness of an ICT based lesson. Finally, a more intangible suggestion would be to keep an open mind about aspects of ICT based learning such as game-based learning/ online learning etc. To engage our digital natives, teachers must not be repulsed by the digital world in the first place.
Digital natives, also referring to the youth of today, are good at using the computer, internet, video games, emails, instant messenger. They learn how to use the computer since very young. As such, these digital natives may have entirely different mindsets from their teachers and parents, who are digital immigrants.
As aptly put by Marc Prensky (2001), the youth of today develop hypertext minds and it is as though their cognitive structures were parallel, not sequential. Prensky also adds that linear thought processes that dominate educational systems now can actually retard learning for brains developed through game and Web-surfing processes on the computer (Marc Prensky, 2001).
Digital natives do not have short attention spans. Rather, our digital natives today prefer to engage in discussions, teamwork and hands-on projects. Marc Prensky pointed out that, contrary to prevailing perceptions, the attention spans of youth are not short. For example, they have very long attention spans for online/video games. Rather, Digital Natives crave interactivity—an immediate response to their each and every action (Marc Prensky, 2001). As such, our lesson plans have to be premised on the fact that our students will not be able to sit still at their desks for more than ten minutes at a time.
Which portrait did you select? (In your blog, create a link to the portrait.) In terms of their digital background, how similar was that student compared to a Singapore student?
I chose Nafiza.
However unlike a typical Singaporean student, she does a lot more with her skills and expertise as a digital native. It was mentioned that on top of being a regular student, she is a video producer, activist, social networker and gamer. On top of that, she helps raise awareness for Tibetan students online. 18 year olds in Singapore are currently mugging very hard for their A levels/N levels or various other exams. We will be hard pressed to find a person who is as engaged with international affairs Nafiza is. In her interview, she mentions that she has “learned so much through Global Kids, and not just about filming and editing, but also about the world and people around [her]."
How might teachers in Singapore today engage and teach our digital natives?
Most teachers themselves are not digital natives. Therefore this will take quite a bit of effort. First, when planning for lessons, teachers should consider more group based, interactive lessons and student directed learning. Second, perhaps teachers can consider ICT as an integral part of a lesson. Making use of the same ICT tools the students use in delivering lessons and in conducting assessments would better engage them. Teachers who have been in the service for long can consider going for ICT courses so as to better understand the usefulness and effectiveness of an ICT based lesson. Finally, a more intangible suggestion would be to keep an open mind about aspects of ICT based learning such as game-based learning/ online learning etc. To engage our digital natives, teachers must not be repulsed by the digital world in the first place.
Jin Xun
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