Comments on: Beyond the digital native / immigrant dichotomy http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/ Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:20:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Toni Allen http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23934 Toni Allen Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:37:18 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23934 I see it as a civilization that is evolving. My thought is along the lines of the children's book Westlandia. Westley creates and discovers a new civilization in his backyard. It has its own number system, language, games, etc. all based on the primary crop. Techlandia. A civilization with no borders. Andrew Calkins wrote about feeling capable to learn new technology because he is fluent in some. He is talking about learning a new language/culture. Some of us are still tourists with a Berlitz book. But we are willing. I think it is a journey or continuum. Everybody has to start somewhere. And everyone has to keep evolving.Like going beyond learning to read to reading to learn. It's getting over that fence. It takes willingness. I see it as a civilization that is evolving. My thought is along the lines of the children’s book Westlandia. Westley creates and discovers a new civilization in his backyard. It has its own number system, language, games, etc. all based on the primary crop.
Techlandia. A civilization with no borders.
Andrew Calkins wrote about feeling capable to learn new technology because he is fluent in some. He is talking about learning a new language/culture. Some of us are still tourists with a Berlitz book. But we are willing.
I think it is a journey or continuum. Everybody has to start somewhere. And everyone has to keep evolving.Like going beyond learning to read to reading to learn. It’s getting over that fence. It takes willingness.

]]> By: Shifting the dichotomy « Cycling Through Ed Tech http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23514 Shifting the dichotomy « Cycling Through Ed Tech Wed, 25 Oct 2006 01:50:28 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23514 [...] Wes Fryer wrote this week about the narrowness of the native:immigrant analogy. He adds the category of digital refugees to the mix; as well as bridges - those with one foot in each century … I like this word picture - and voyeurs - those who just watch as others do - they are many times referred to as lurkers in online learning environments. [...] [...] Wes Fryer wrote this week about the narrowness of the native:immigrant analogy. He adds the category of digital refugees to the mix; as well as bridges - those with one foot in each century … I like this word picture - and voyeurs - those who just watch as others do - they are many times referred to as lurkers in online learning environments. [...]

]]> By: On the false dichotomy of ‘Digital Natives’ and ‘Digital Immigrants’ at teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23455 On the false dichotomy of ‘Digital Natives’ and ‘Digital Immigrants’ at teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk Tue, 24 Oct 2006 20:32:01 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23455 [...] It’s probably a combination of these, although I’d probably put the emphasis on the first and last ones. The conversation bloomed somewhat via the comment thread, leading to Others talking about this issue on their blogs. I’ve been meaning to post about if for a while and, being inspired by Dave Warlick’s pre-conference keynote for the K12 Online Conference, I’ve decided to vodcast my thoughts on this… [...] [...] It’s probably a combination of these, although I’d probably put the emphasis on the first and last ones. The conversation bloomed somewhat via the comment thread, leading to Others talking about this issue on their blogs. I’ve been meaning to post about if for a while and, being inspired by Dave Warlick’s pre-conference keynote for the K12 Online Conference, I’ve decided to vodcast my thoughts on this… [...]

]]> By: Notes from Millie D » We are you on the spectrum? http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23289 Notes from Millie D » We are you on the spectrum? Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:42:47 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23289 [...] Wes clarified his thinking further next day in a posting on his blog.  He looked at the dichotomy of the digital native/immigrant.  My take within the dichotomy is that is not enough to know about the technology but to keep pushing to use the technology.  The ever changing world of technology makes it hard to keep up but for the natives they don’t see it as keeping up but as discovering new frontiers. [...] [...] Wes clarified his thinking further next day in a posting on his blog.  He looked at the dichotomy of the digital native/immigrant.  My take within the dichotomy is that is not enough to know about the technology but to keep pushing to use the technology.  The ever changing world of technology makes it hard to keep up but for the natives they don’t see it as keeping up but as discovering new frontiers. [...]

]]> By: Andrew Calkins http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23105 Andrew Calkins Mon, 23 Oct 2006 04:17:03 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-23105 While I agree with Christopher that we need to go beyond the simple duality of "in" or "out" with regards technology, I wonder if all of these models are missing the central point: how well can an individual learn a new technology. I may be a "digital voyeur" with regards to a lot of different technologies (for instance GPS) but I also know that if I have a need to understand that technology I can fairly quickly master it. So, one could laboriously map out my abilities with each technology, or try to plop me into a single inappropriate category, but what really counts is 1) my interest in learning new technologies, and 2) my ability to learn a new technology once I put my mind to it. I think that this is where we need to focus as technology educators: showing the value/usefullness of these technologies, and increasing students' ability to master ANY new technology that they have an interest in. While I agree with Christopher that we need to go beyond the simple duality of “in” or “out” with regards technology, I wonder if all of these models are missing the central point: how well can an individual learn a new technology. I may be a “digital voyeur” with regards to a lot of different technologies (for instance GPS) but I also know that if I have a need to understand that technology I can fairly quickly master it. So, one could laboriously map out my abilities with each technology, or try to plop me into a single inappropriate category, but what really counts is 1) my interest in learning new technologies, and 2) my ability to learn a new technology once I put my mind to it. I think that this is where we need to focus as technology educators: showing the value/usefullness of these technologies, and increasing students’ ability to master ANY new technology that they have an interest in.

]]> By: Christopher Harris http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-22964 Christopher Harris Sun, 22 Oct 2006 15:25:45 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-22964 Wes, Great review, but I want to stress one thing a bit more heavily. The problem with the revised model and the diffused model put forth by Quinten are that they attempt to tackle ALL technologies at once. If we are looking at technology within the context of teaching and learning, then I really think we need to look at each technology within its own particular context. How does someone become a digital native? Do you have to be some uber-geek who knows "everything about everything?" I don't really use IM, does that mean I can't be a digital native? No, it simply means I am not a digital native in the realm of IM (though I know I need to be!). From a professional development/adult learner perspective, these attempts to tackle the whole at once are worrisome. Adult learners need to feel respected and need to celebrate successes that legitimize their progress. "Labeling" on each technology allows them to tackle the ones they want, gain expertise, and celebrate small successes. Wes,

Great review, but I want to stress one thing a bit more heavily. The problem with the revised model and the diffused model put forth by Quinten are that they attempt to tackle ALL technologies at once. If we are looking at technology within the context of teaching and learning, then I really think we need to look at each technology within its own particular context.

How does someone become a digital native? Do you have to be some uber-geek who knows “everything about everything?” I don’t really use IM, does that mean I can’t be a digital native? No, it simply means I am not a digital native in the realm of IM (though I know I need to be!).

From a professional development/adult learner perspective, these attempts to tackle the whole at once are worrisome. Adult learners need to feel respected and need to celebrate successes that legitimize their progress. “Labeling” on each technology allows them to tackle the ones they want, gain expertise, and celebrate small successes.

]]> By: nix http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-22925 nix Sun, 22 Oct 2006 10:10:57 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/#comment-22925 How about the idea that the refugee has chosen to leave one place and move to another but can see the best of both worlds. http://www.nixit.co.nz/wordpress/2006/02/19/act-like-a-native/ How about the idea that the refugee has chosen to leave one place and move to another but can see the best of both worlds.

http://www.nixit.co.nz/wordpress/2006/02/19/act-like-a-native/

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