Overview
In his article, “Listen to the Natives,” Marc Prensky refers to digital natives – that is, our students who are fluent speakers of today’s technology – and digital immigrants, those of us who have gradually stepped into this digital world, but keep one foot in the past. Prensky argues that teachers need to continue to be facilitators in the classroom, even when it comes to the technology they do not have a complete grasp on. In the event that the teacher becomes flustered with the technology, teachers should turn to their students and ask for input, which will allow for communication between student and teacher. Prensky also points out that students need to be involved with every aspect of the classroom, from deciding what goes in to the curriculum, to what assignments are given out. Prensky asserts that teachers can teach via different modes of technology that students use already, such as cell phones, video games, and their own programming skills. His final observation and suggestion is to listen to the students’ voices when it comes to technology and their education thereof, since they are the digital natives and their teachers are digital immigrants.
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