For me, the most interesting part of this article for me was the section on misconceptions and assumptions about today’s learners. Some of the relevant parts were:
Technology preferences
While this generation shows no fear of technology, ‘digital comfort’ does not necessarily mean technology proficiency – particularly with academic tools. Nor does comfort with technology equate to a full appreciation of issues such as intellectual property, privacy or security.
Information fluency
Students need to know how to find and use information, and technology is a critical enabler. However, only 31 per cent of information searches are successful. Just because students know how to open a Web browser, educators should not assume that everyone knows how to search for information. And just because students can find information doesn’t mean it is reputable or truthful.
Access to technology
In a wired world it is easy to assume that all students have access to a computer and the network, whether at home or at school. However, a digital divide still exists in many communities – one defined as more than just having access to a computer. A ‘second-level digital divide’ may exist based on machine vintage, connectivity, online skills, autonomy and freedom of access, and computer-use support.
Maturity
It is easy to assume that learners – with their tech-savvy attitudes and worldwise veneer – have greater maturity than their years. We are cautioned that this presumption of maturity is unfounded on many levels. In a multi-tasking, fast-forward world, learners may not be stopping to reflect on what they know, how they behave, and the values they hold. In fact, the tendency of young people to not be reflective – to pause, think, and ponder – may simply be a characteristic of youth. However, in an environment where students are posting their lives on the internet, stopping to consider what they are doing and its future impact is essential.
I have assumed, apparently mistakenly, that younger learners have Web 2.0 technology mastered. It hadn’t really occurred to me that many young people might know how to log onto Facebook and upload video to Youtube, but not much else.
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2 comments:
It certainly seemed to me that they were playing both sides of the field--on the one hand, kids won't take you seriously if you don't think of access to all information all the time as an EXPECTED commodity (barf!), and on the other hand, well, many kids don't have computers and some actually read books and spend time other then on their computer.
Wow, great analysis. It's probably true that people (not just kids) nowadays do not reflect anymore. It might be because I live in a city, but I notice that everybody is reacting at things in a very hasty manner nowadays.
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