The youngest digital immigrant I know is probably my brother who is nearly two years younger than me and is 18 years old. Although he was obviously born into the digital world we as a family did not get a computer until my brother was about seven years old. He also did not get too into gaming unlike other boys his age. This may seem young however, it meant that he wasn't surrounded by technology or using it on a daily basis.
At school we were both lucky enough to gain a strong education in Information Technology, however, this was not a subject my brother picked up well. Although he is able to use the basics on any computer, he finds it hard and it does take him longer to grasps new digital concepts, in a similar way to my parents who, before 10 years ago, were technology illiterate and definitely digital immigrants.
According to Prensky's theory, my brother should be a native because he was born into the digital world however, as he struggles with technology in a similar way to someone who was not born into the digital world, then surely he is more of an immigrant.
Does Prensky's theory take into account the fact that maybe one can be a digital immigrant born into a world of digital natives?
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No you're right it doesn't i think that there are other characteristics deciding on whether someone should be classed as a digital or native which Prensky hasn't considered, such as influence from home life etc
ReplyDeleteyeah i also think there should be other things taken into consideration. but then again there are so many digital divides.
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