The Digital Immigrant and the Digital Native

I consider myself to be a digital native.  Even in the house I grew up in as a child, I remember our Windows 98 computer sitting on the desk in the loft upstairs. It was our only computer, so that was one thing me and my siblings fought over. I was taught the computer language almost as quickly as I was learning the English language. My family was very strict when it came to the computer. We were only allowed 30 minutes on the computer a day, growing up, and that was after we had completed all of our chores and homework. Going on the computer was a privilege. As I grew older, and the number of computers multiplied in our household, we were aloud more time on the computer. The number of computers was probably due to the change of our home-schooling curriculum which was becoming more digitalized itself. Not only was I learning the typical subjects of Math, Science, English, and History, but I was improving my technology skills and typing skills. If I wanted to finish my school work early, I had to type faster and be able to navigate my way through the technology maze. So basically, you could say that in addition to having to use technology efficiently to survive and thrive, I have been and always will be a digital native.

                As a theoretical teacher, I could cater to the diverse learning styles of my students by using technology. I could help students who are visual learners by using Smartboards and powerpoints, I could use those who are more active and hands-on learners by letting them play interactive games on computers and so forth.

                I think the problems that are occurring because of technology can be easily avoided. The digital immigrants are becoming less because they are becoming more educated in technology to survive in their career and the new technological world. Those who are obsessed with technology and misuse it will also not last in their career. Like any other addiction, one could say that “it’s not the fork that made the man fat”. One cannot claim that technology is the problem, but the person.