Tutorial Six - Essay Research

Essay question: Are the views put forward by Prensky and Weinberg accurate portrayals of contemporary internet users?

1. ‘DIGITAL NA(T)IVES – DISCOURSES OF EXCLUSION IN AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY’ 2009, Dr. David K. Herold, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS), HK, pp. 1 – 7.

http://miha2.ef.uni-lj.si/cost298/gbc2009-proceedings/papers/P004.pdf

This article examines the phenomenon of the ‘digital native’ and the calls to adapt the education system in order to cater to these new sophisticated users of technology. Dr Herold states that whilst ‘digital native’ are using more technology, the level of computer literacy is questionable and not supported by research. This contributes to my argument by providing a critical response to the claims purported by Prensky.

2. “The ‘digital natives’ debate: A critical review of the evidence”, Sue Bennett, Karl Maton and Lisa Kervin 2008, British Journal of Educational Technology ,Vol39, No.5, 2008 775–786.

http://api.ning.com/files/AkclmKAQ9nT0vPJuCYL9261SknCvwP1UJ-RaVQ7kZumzWZVPq5iNlfGrqf0Jpc3wUnK8A07FuVmRXQ1WRqnre5q2z53PRnT0/Thedigitalnativesdebatecriticalreview.pdf

This article supports the criticisms of Prensky outlined in the above article. It states that that rather than being empirically and theoretically informed, the debate regarding digital native can be likened to an academic form of a ‘moral panic’. Again this article forms a stronger basis for my criticisms of Prensky.

3. “First year students’ experiences with technology: Are they really digital natives?”, Gregor E. Kennedy, Terry S. Judd, Anna Churchward, Kathleen Gray, Australasian Journal of Educational Technology 2008, 24(1), 108-122.

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.85.9526&rep=rep1&type=pdf

This article examines Prensky’s claims further. It examines how when one moves beyond entrenched technologies and tools (e.g. computers, mobile phones, email) the patterns of access and use of a range of other technologies show considerable variation. The findings are discussed in light of Prensky’s (2001a) notions of the ‘Digital Natives’ and the implications for using technology to support teaching and learning in higher education.

4. “The Cyber-World We've Created”. Conhaim, W. (2002). Information Today, 19(9), 58. Retrieved from Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre database.

http://web.ebscohost.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/ehost/pdf?vid=7&hid=104&sid=fafc2961-4874-49c1-967a-cb99665f9d7b%40sessionmgr11

This article reviews the book 'Small Pieces Loosely Joined: A Unified Theory of the Web,' by David Weinberger. Whilst it is largely non-critical of Weinberger’s approach it does a good job of outlining the argument put forward by Weinberger that the web is a world we have made for each other and that unlike Prensky’s view of the digital native confidently shaping the use of information technology, we are essentially still feeling our way in this new ‘digital frontier’.5. Read Write Web - Top Internet Trends of 2000-2009

http://www.readwriteweb.com

I used this site to compare some of the claims made in the various articles used above, against actual trends reported by respected organisations such as Morgan Stanley, Rapleaf and Read Write Web themselves. By using this site I was able to generate a more well rounded view of the claims both authors put forward in their articles.