One of the most defining aspects of my tween and teenage identity was my love of Harry Potter and the wizarding world. My parents, teachers, and friends at school all knew this. What they did not know, was that my engagement expanded far beyond the books. I was an active member of several Harry Potter online forums where I discussed the books, wrote and read fanfiction, and made deep and lasting (to this day) friendships. During this time, I learned a lot about online spaces -these forums had their own language, culture, and content- but I lacked the ability to critically examine what I saw. I also still needed to be explicitly taught skills associated with typing, word processing, spreadsheets, illustrator programs, etc.
Although I may not technically fall into the category of “digital native” I think my experience is similar to that of my students. They are absolutely savvy, quick, and creative in the social media spaces in which they occupy, particularly Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and Soundcloud. Honestly, I don’t think adults give them enough credit for their ingenuity. In this respect, I appreciate Marc Prensky’s overall intention in referring to our students as “digital natives” because it gives validity to their experiences. It also implores adults to at least acknowledge that growing up in a world with smartphones and the internet has had a significant physiological and psychological impact.
I also worry that referring to our students as “digital natives” assumes a level of skill and competency that is not accurate. As Danah Boyd argues in chapter 7 of Its Complicated, digital fluency is less about being familiar with the latest “gadgets” or “apps” and more about being able to critically examine, interpret, and understand the media one consumes. This skill, over anything we teach with the common core, or otherwise, is imperative in our modern world. Consider Facebook’s role in the 2016 presidential election, where targeted ads, fake accounts, and polarizing memes may have actually impacted the outcome.
As far as the term “digital native” goes, I’m not sure I am a fan -both because of its implications that students are digitally fluent and its ethnocultural connotations. Regardless, we are all digital citizens and as teachers, we have a responsibility to empower our students to be critical consumers of media.
You are so right, Katie. The ability to critically examine is an imperative skill to have today. Many adults struggle with it. You mentioned Facebook and it's influence on the 2016 election which I feel parallels the way a variety of contradicting information has circulated social media in regards to coronavirus. In this case, it can be a matter of life and death. I wonder if this is potentially an unfortunate side effect of "digital immigrants" missing the opportunity to be taught these skills in their youth because the technology did not exist yet.
ReplyDeleteYou’re blog looks awesome! I don’t like the terms digital immigrant and digital natives either. I remember having to sit and listen to Harry Potter books read aloud by my third grade teacher. I just was not into it! I would look around the room, whisper to classmates etc. I just was more of a non-fiction loving kid. I wanted zero to do with a fantasy world.
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