DIGITAL NATIVES AND DIGITAL IMMIGRANTS

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM

When we talk about Digital Education, we have to name Marc prensky, Marc prensky is an internationally acclaimed though leader, speaker, write, consultant, and game designer in the field of Education and learning, he is the autor of the Books Digital natives, Digital immigrants and from Digital natives to Digital wisdom. And other several Books in the field of the technology nowaday.

What is Educational Technology?

Let´s begin our blog saying that according to The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources. Or the process of integrating technology into education in a positive manner that promotes a more diverse learning environment and a way for students to learn how to use technology as well as their common assignments.

What are the types of educational technology?

Educational technology includes numerous types of media that deliver text, audio, images, animation, and streaming video, and includes technology applications and processes such as audio or video tape, satellite TV, CD-ROM, and computer-based learning.

Synchronous learning is a type of learning in which students can exchange information with other students during a period of time. Example: Skype conversations, chat rooms or Virtual Classrooms, etc.

Asynchronous learning may use technologies such as email, blogs, wіkis, and discussion boards, as well as web-supported textbooks, hyprtext documents, audio, video courses, and social networking using web. In asynchronous online courses, students proceed at their own pace. If they need to listen to a lecture a second time, or think about a question for a while, they may do so without fearing that they will hold back the rest of the class.

What is the benefit of educational technology?

Educational technology includes numerous types of media that deliver text, audio, images, animation, and streaming video, and includes technology applications and processes such as audio or video tape, satellite TV, CD-ROM, and computer-based learning.

Synchronous learning is a type of learning in which students can exchange information with other students during a period of time. Example: Skype conversations, chat rooms or Virtual Classrooms, etc.

Asynchronous learning may use technologies such as email, blogs, wіkis, and discussion boards, as well as web-supported textbooks, hyprtext documents, audio, video courses, and social networking using web. In asynchronous online courses, students proceed at their own pace. If they need to listen to a lecture a second time, or think about a question for a while, they may do so without fearing that they will hold back the rest of the class.

What is the benefit of educational technology?

Educational technology helps teachers and students at the same time.

Teachers: 

• Can improve the way they teach.
• Get lots of resources.
• Keep their students engaged.

Students:

• Can learn at their own speed.
• Feel that can enjoy learning.
• Technology can encourage a more active participation in the learning process.
• Encourages individual learning.
• Encourages collaboration when they work with other partners sharing information.

Today we know that our students have undergone significant changes regarding their ways of learning.  It´s plain to see that they do it in a different way we did in the past. These differences should happen changes in our practice as teachers.

It is important that as teachers we understand that we have in our hands young people with other interests and above all with a great capacity to create but that depends on us.

They were borned surrounded by computers, videogames, digital music players, video cams, cell phones, etc and that have made them to think different from us.

Taking into account this reality and according to Dr. Bruce Perry of Baylor College of Medicine. Our students’ brains have physically changed and what we mean is that definitely we have to accept the idea of being opened to change, we have to research more about the new technologies used in class not only in this country but in other places where young people learn and they enjoy doing it.

These Young people are called digital natives by Mark Prensky and we would be part of the group digital immigrants because although it is true that we use technologies, we don´t do it the way they do because we weren´t borned surrounded by them. We just use them because we have to.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIGITAL NATIVES AND DIGITAL IMMIGRANTS

So, obviously, it´s us, the digital immigrants, who have to change the methods and learn their ways. It is essential to accept this and be flexible. We think that we should give it a try and we´re sure that we´ll enjoyed it.