Article Summary #1: “Listen to the Natives” By Marc Prensky

Overview:

This article introduces the idea that many educator and educational systems have become “immigrants” in the digital world that has surrounded us in 21st Century. The “natives” of this new world are the students, who have by raised by the recent advances in technology and they offer a wealth of digital information for educators to take advantage of.

Outside of school modern students are inundated with technology and digital tools. Advanced features on cell phones, video games, and means of digital communication and information gathering are a part of everyday life for these “digital natives.” As a result, the classic means of educating our students are no longer as effective. In order to make school more meaningful and productive, educators must incorporate these digital tools into the curriculum and help students to take advantage of these digital tools to educate themselves.

Because the students in this new digital world evolve just as fast as the digital and technological tools around us educators must listen and learn from the students. The students can teach us what digital tools we should incorporate into the classrooms and how to use these tools to streamline the educational process. Many digital tools, including cell phones, can connect the student to the classroom from anywhere. They can also connect the student to any classroom around the world and by utilizing these digital tools we can enhance the student’s education in every aspect of their lives.

Reference Points:

• “Teachers must take time to learn what the students know and how they learn.”

• “Teachers should use students as a resource. Students can teach the educators what technological equipment should be in the classroom. And in turn, educators need to teach students how to take full advatage of the digital tools they have access to in their everyday lives.”

• “Students should be engaged the 21st century way: electronically. Content can be offered to students in the form of electronic games, known as “gameplay.” It offers students goals and immediate feedback as to how they are improving. It is also an interesting and interactive way for the students to learn material.”

• “Instruction must be flexible and adaptive to the digital tools available. One on one education with the students should be incorporated as much as possible and the creation of virtual groups and learning partners allows students to pick who they learn with.”

• “To prepare kids for their 21st century lives, we must help them maximize their tools by extending their programming abilities.”

• “Schools must find a way to integrate the student’s technology rich out of school lives with their lives in the classroom. If responsibility is instilled in the students, even cell phones can help accomplish this goal.”

• “Teachers must listen to the students, value their opinions, and make changes based on the valid suggestions they offer.”

Reflection:

I enjoyed learning a new way to look at my own “digital accent.” I have spent most of my life learning about the world around us, not the digital world. I appreciated the view presented in this article that due to this digital world kids today are being raised in, it is very hard to keep up with the students technologically. As a result, we should embrace this fact and utilize the student’s knowledge to enhance the classroom experience to better fit the students. I can also see how this would give the students more ownership in their education.

Just the other day I was asked if we could set up a way for students to more of their school work online or from outside of class. This would be very beneficial for traveling students or for sick students to keep up with the daily activities. I believe this is the type of “streamlining” that was mentioned in this article and one of the ways students can help the teacher.

I like many of the ideas presented in this article. Especially the “gameplay” method of instruction and assessment. With today’s gamer society this could be by far and away the most engaging educational tool. Of course it all comes down to time, which can be very limited, but the sooner we learn how the incorporate these digital tools the more interested our students will be in school.