Digital Natives

Definitions:-
Digital Natives "Native speakers of the digital language"(Prensky, 2001). People who have grown up interacting with computers, video games and internet.

Digital Immigrants people who learn how to use or interact with technology at a later stage in their lives; did not grow up with technology (Prensky, 2001).

Plus
Shows the change in the current generation to incorporate technology changes to society. Gives ideas to teachers on the importance of the issue and how to view students in an alternative way to be able to reach them more effectively (Prensky, 2005).

Minus

Other studies have shown that the emphasis on changes may be overstated (Margaryan & Littlejohn, 2008) or misrepresented; not showing the differences in the generation , due to the level of individual IT use (Thrupp, 2010), but concur that change needs to be made so students can interact fully in society.

Interesting
There has been a huge shift in society to encompass IT, from the office (changes making computers almost mandatory) through to the farm (where equipment controls have been changed to be more like video games) there has been changes, students need to feel comfortable with IT, and learn how to interact with it and know how to work out differences in programs quickly to be work ready when they have completed school, giving them the best opportunities to go onto further learning, to get a job, and for social interaction. With the continual push of IT into schools I believe that we will create what we are saying, the generation that is starting primary school now will go through school with an even higher level of IT, interactive whiteboards etc, than we have now creating a situation that when they have reached high school and university the teachers better be prepared and IT savvy enough to cope or it will be even harder of them than it is now.

Margaryan, A., & Littlejohn, A. (2008). Are digital natives a myth or reality?: students' use of technologies for learning. Glasgow: Glasgow Caledonian University.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon (MCB University
Press), 9(5)

Prensky, M. (2005). Engage me or enrage me: what today's learners demand. Educause(September / October), 60-64.

Thrupp, R.-M. (2010). ICT created diversity in the classroom: the contemporary learner. Bundaberg: CQUniversity.