“Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach” (Marc Prensky 2001)
21st Century learners are catergorised as tech savey. They have been born in a complex world and have been subjected to technology from birth. This generation is a complex generation only knowing computers, I phones, I pads, video games and other digital media which makes their experiences and environment completely different to what a lot of educators are currently subjected to.
Prensky (2001) categorises people into 2 categories - Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. I personally am a digital immigrant, generation X born in 1974. I was taught by teachers who wrote on blackboards and read out of books, the more traditional style of learning compared to what the future holds for our generation Y and New Millennial students. It is exciting to see where technology takes us as long as students can still write, read and do maths I say let’s embrace the learning journey. As a learning facilitator it is our obligation to make learning interesting and technology is just that. The amount of learning using digital technology is phenomenal. Students are able to embrace their learning concentrating on the pace which suits them which can be adapted by their learning styles. However as learning facilitators we still need to remember that all children are different and we have to educate and teach to their individual needs and ability levels.
My response to the article “engage or enrage” is a thumbs up response. I completely agree with Mark Prensky (2005) . I believe children respond to being engrossed on their learning journey. They need to be excited about learning and be able to express their creativity and ICT knowledge. We as educators need to make learning in the 21st century a success and focus on captivating and guiding the next generation into a world full of excitement and digital evolution.
REFERENCES:
A Vision of K-12 Students Today
An insightful u tube video about children's ideas regarding 21st century learning. Some really great ideas.
A Vision of K-12 Students Today
This video was very inspiring. It gave me new understanding on today's teachers and what we need to do.
ReplyDeleteVanessa, this is a thoughtful and well-justified perspective. You have linked your reading to your experience in context to come up with fully supported conclusions.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
xxx W
I'm a fan of Prensky's... I find him very interesting! Thanks for sharing! You have nothing to worry about!!! :)
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