Friday, November 16, 2012

Week Seven Reflections: Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

Last night I was reading Prensky's article Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants in bed. You say not a bad idea right? Well, I found myself falling asleep with all my papers from this week's coursework around me. You read right - papers around me. No, I wasn't reading his article on my laptop or IPad but on the copy I had printed out. Then tonight during Spanish class I whip out my IPad to take notes on. Yes, IPad not paper. Then near the end of class my purse vibrates. Everyone just ignores it. I panic thinking it is an important call I am missing and cannot concentrate the last five minutes of class. After I get home, I immediately turn on the Chiefs game to find a tied score!!! I had all intentions of doing coursework tonight and have my schedule lined out (on my IPad) to get as much work as I can done before I head to Florida. But here I am watching football and typing my reflections on this article
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I must say, Prensky made me feel much better about myself. I am not ADHD (as my husband says) but I like to multi-task and parallel process. I feel I learn better and have more fun doing it this way.  Now, in no way am I saying I am a digital native but  I can understand where some of my students are coming from. The brain must be relaxed but active to learn.  (F.Y.I. We are in over time!!!!) 

Maybe this wiring of my brain has allowed me to more easily accept the digital age of education. I only wish I had had all this technology available when I was in school or even beginning my teaching career 30+ years ago.  (Darn, we  lost the game.) I love the new avenues I now have to address students learning and knowledge base plus my own. I am trying to develop more ways every day to connect their learning through technology and keep it kid paced.

It is a new world out there from that in which I was educated but personally I feel it is a better world and embrace it.



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