It is easy to assume that the so-called digital natives will respond without difficulty to any technological challenge, but a survey from Cengage Learning and Eduventures, entitled “Instructors and Students: Technology Use, Engagement and Learning Outcomes,” found it wasn't quite that simple:
"Sixty-five percent of instructors think students are tech savvy when it comes to using digital tools in the classroom. Conversely, only 42 percent of students believe there is enough support for educational technology, evidence of a perception gap in how adept students are versus how savvy they are presumed to be. According to the survey, students prefer courses that use a great deal of technology, provided there is adequate support in using the tools. Where adequate support and training is provided, 70 percent of students prefer to take a course with a great deal of technology."
According to Cengage Executive Vice President, William Reiders, this data debunks the digital native myth:
“While today’s college students are immersed and fluent in social media, consumer electronics and video games, they’re not nearly as proficient when it comes to using digital tools in a classroom setting; this turns the myth that we're dealing with a whole generation of digital natives on its head."
I'm not sure I'd go that far, but the survey does issue a useful warning about the dangers of generalising about the transferability of technology skills. It's quite possible that a great many people have learned how to do what they want to do with mobile phones and games machines without having a clue how they work. They simply have to know how to use these devices if they are to maintain their credibility among their peers, so they do whatever is necessary to establish the necessary competence; but without a real understanding of the underlying concepts and principles, they don't have much of a head start when it comes to, say, using a wiki, creating a spreadsheet or putting together a presentation.
No comments:
Post a Comment