Some questions to think about when reading the article:
1. How might you, as an Foreign Language Teacher bridge the cultural and linguistic divide separating today's teachers or students in teaching or learning a foreign language using technology if teacher or student is not "fluent" in the world of technology?
2. Does our brain work differently today than that of "yesteryear," especially when it comes to technology?
3. Can Digital Immigrants learn other languages?
4. Will Digital Natives leave the Digital Immigrants behind?
5. What are your thoughts on technology ... a replacement ... or a tool ... in learning a foreign language?
Thanks! Cat
Week 7 ~ responses due by Thursday, March 8 :)
I think the analogy of Digital immigrant is a little far. For me, I believe the final purpose of teaching is still to foster students' critical thinking and to encourage creative ability. Some students with higher level of computer technologies may prefer the random process of learning. But it doesn't mean all of students are access to same degree of resources, have same preference. Teachers who lack certain digital background may attract little attention from students. Likewise, empty content in short of learning instruction merely full with flashy PPT, animation, video clips would never be the most effective in helping students. I think the reasonable model is the combination of legacy content and tech support, just as what Prensky recommends. The digital immigrants can feel free to learn the "language" of digital native, there is no need to worry about the adaptation, because effective teachers are not only supposed to follow up the educational purpose but also have the right to filter out unmatched information or materials.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what was said above. I do not think that our brains now work differently than they once did, but I do think new skills have been acquired by those people who would be considered "digital natives," and that those skills can serve to separate the digital natives from the "digital immigrants". I agree that the term immigrant is a little dramatic; you wouldn't refer to an English Language Learner as a language immigrant.
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific article that takes a critical view of Prensky's metaphor. I was particularly taken with this quote which I think represents a measured understanding of technology for teaching:
ReplyDelete"Such a range of teaching methods does not necessarily suggest an unwillingness to adapt to new circumstances, but rather an understanding that the incorporation of technology in the learning process is always context-specific, always determined by the particular circumstances of a given course."
Again, the metaphor Prensky uses of natives and immigrants falls down when explored in light of what we have seen of cultural assimilation and cultural adaptation and language loss. It really depends on the context! In other words, whether or not digital immigrants can learn another 'language' depends on what opportunities, resources and needs are in place for the learning of that other 'language' as well as the skills, abilities, motivation and similiarities found between the first and second 'language'.