Marc Prensky Ted Talk

Watch the following video clips and answer the following questions:

1. What do you think of the term: Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants?

Digital natives are the ones who have grown up using digital media such as gaming, social media, cellphones, etc. Digital immigrants are those who have learned to use digital media later on in their life. 

2. Where do you fit in?

I feel like I was  born during a time where we were more so digital natives than immigrants. We basically grew up with the technology. When it came around, we were still very young. Our generation was one that adapted to it quickly and made it into something bigger. 

3. In regards to the Digital Divide, how do you see it impacting education?

I find that we are experiencing a digital divide in the sense that our teachers grew up differently than we are.  Our life of technology is not something that they grew up with. They are teaching in ways that aren't necessarily ways that will engage us or make us want to listen to what they have to teach us. 

4. What are the most interesting concepts Prensky presents? Why?

I think the most interesting thing that Prensky brings up is engaging students. He talked about using different tools that students today are familiar with, such as their digital medias, in order to create lessons and keep students interested. He thinks that if we bring these medias into schools, we will be able to keep our students learning and it'll be something they love to do.

Also, i found it interesting when he brought up the way kids are completely engaged outside of school compared to in school. Then he went on to discuss what they are engaged in and why. It brought backed up his idea of bringing these medias into schools. 

5. Is there anything Prensky presents that you are skeptical about? What is it and why do you think so?

Prensky presents multiple ways to use technology in the classrooms. Some of the things he suggests, like having kids create their own wikipedia pages and things like that seem like good ideas, but I'm not sure that would work any better than assigning an essay. Another thing he suggested was group work. I don't always think that group assignments work. For some classes they may be necessary, but I don't think most kids prefer working in groups. I don't think it'd be a successful tactic, mainly for my art classes. 

6. Do you think technology is important in an art clasroom? Why or Why not?

I do think technology is important in the classroom. I think it's good for students to get online and discover new things. They can use technology to take photos, share photos, find new artists and artwork. They have such an opportunity to learn new things and stay creative. 

7. How do you imagine you will (or will not)  incorporate technology in your classroom?

Personally, I would love to use technology in my classrooms. I think it's important for students to take photos for references and to always be learning new things. I would use the internet for research and to share artists and artwork. I would introduce programs such as photoshop to my students to get them working on their own ideas. I think it would really help my students explore and experiment with their work.