Article Review

Marla Sanders

binamig@gmail.com

Learning in the Digital Age
by Marc Prensky

Article Overview

Mr. Prensky begins by coining a new term to describe just how different 21st century students are from their 20th century counterparts. So called digital natives are not just better users of technology but they are fluent in the language of technology; while we, digital immigrants, are mere admirers from afar. He states, without equivocation that, not only will we never catch up with the natives but—because they are moving forward so much faster than us—we are doomed to fall farther behind.

This being the case, he believes the role of teaching should change for the 21st student. Teachers should strive to not stifle their student’s connection to technology and accept their own position as the least capable in the room; they should be empathetic guides to their students learning by inviting students to validate the material being ‘taught’ by giving examples of how a concept or idea relates to one of their games, or to their favorite MySpace page. Student’s—because of their superior position—should be included in every classroom decision. Who, what, how, when and where will we learn today boys and girls?

According to the author, the advantages of making this change includes; heightened student engagement, flexible scheduling, and adaptive instruction; by ending the need to ‘herd’ students through a strictly scheduled day.

• Students are no longer “little versions” of us, indeed, technologically speaking we are “little versions” of them.
• Digital natives move so fast that digital immigrants will never catch up.
• Teachers should be chosen based on their “empathy” and “guidance” abilities rather than their knowledge of content area.
• Even though they are the natives, “We need to help all our students take advantage of these new tools and systems to educate themselves.”
• Since “we will never have enough truly great teachers to engage these students.”
• Students, if given the opportunity, could invent timesaving technology that would “free up teachers for more meaningful work.”

I can’t agree more with the practical applications suggested by Mr. Prensk. I don’t agree with any of his reasons but I do believe educators underuse available technology—primarily out of fear. And I agree that turning to ‘digital natives’ for help serves the double purpose of bringing technology into the classroom and of connecting with student’s over something they value and enjoy.

Still, this article is disturbing on so many levels. Any literate person that has read classic literature knows that the nature of being human and being civilized does not change—even as technology marches forward. The role of education is to prepare persons to live within society. Advances in technology do not negate this fact.

Because the author uses a specific example from my content area, I will respond to it directly. He writes, “Students could learn algebra far more quickly and effectively if instruction were available in game format.” I suspect the author is not a math teacher. If he were he would not have made the common mistake of thinking mathematics is about getting the right answer. This is not correct thinking; we want the right answer in chemistry, physics and bookkeeping. But, in math, we look for the solution to a problem. This is not accidental wording. Rather, it is a substantively different thing.

Problem solving involves patience, perseverance, routine, organization, working together, study, understanding the history if a thing, strength in the face of difficulty, and most importantly, negotiating one’s own way over the paths that already exist—the very same skills that are needed to be a good parent, a good employee, a good partner, a good college student and so on. Regardless of the technology used, these skills are not taught by deferring to the next generation’s ‘native’ status but by remembering the previous generation’s ‘immigrant’ status. Successfully passing the baton from one generation to the next depends on striking a balance between the two.

Whether with sand and stick, clay tablet, paper and pencil, typewriter, keyboard or twitter; technology is merely how we communicate, and here, the next generation will always lead. But, in becoming human, social, and civilized, the last generation leads. Until I find a ‘game’ that teaches personal social competence, I will not relegate myself to ‘empathetic guide’ or cheerleader.