Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
It's difficult to learn about teaching online without considering and coming to grips with the incredible changes in media and technology that have come about over the past ten years. After all, online learning is one offshoot of the Internet age, all of which is still in its infancy.

One of these such considerations is whether today's younger students are fundamentally different learners than the generations that preceded them. To foster some thought and discussion on this issue, please read the landmark article by Mark Prensky, called Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. After you've read the article, please go to the discussion forum for this piece. In two to three paragraphs, take a shot at some of these questions.
  • Do you agree or disagree with Prensky? Be sure to elaborate on this and give details.
  • How might this article influence any online course design decisions you make?
  • Does this make you want to change how you teach a traditional class?
  • Prensky makes the argument that today's learners are not sequential. Do you agree with this? If so, what implications are there for structuring online classes?
When you're ready, go to the forum and respond there.




Last modified: Sunday, March 14, 2010, 11:54 PM