http://rrodrigo.edublogs.org/2007/01/26/the-net-generation%e2%80%94richardson-part-3/ My rants and raves about being a dedicated scholar and technophile in the community college setting. Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:30:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 http://rrodrigo.edublogs.org/2007/01/26/the-net-generation%e2%80%94richardson-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Donna Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:54:17 +0000 http://rrodrigo.edublogs.org/2007/01/26/the-net-generation%e2%80%94richardson-part-3/#comment-191 I agree with you about the "tech savy with cell phone does not equal overall tech savy" idea. Just because students have figured out their cell phones and iPods does not mean they can really search the Internet and critically evaluate what they find. Some can and some can't. Technology is so broad and the term applies to so many things yet if someone knows how to use TiVo, they are considered "techy". That is like saying that because I know not to apply a tourniquet as treatment for a snake bite that I am a Doctor. No way! I think we need to better understand "techiness" in terms of a set of specific skills and abilities and not just an overly broad generalization. I agree with you about the “tech savy with cell phone does not equal overall tech savy” idea. Just because students have figured out their cell phones and iPods does not mean they can really search the Internet and critically evaluate what they find. Some can and some can’t. Technology is so broad and the term applies to so many things yet if someone knows how to use TiVo, they are considered “techy”. That is like saying that because I know not to apply a tourniquet as treatment for a snake bite that I am a Doctor. No way! I think we need to better understand “techiness” in terms of a set of specific skills and abilities and not just an overly broad generalization.

]]> http://rrodrigo.edublogs.org/2007/01/26/the-net-generation%e2%80%94richardson-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Floyd Geasland Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:47:59 +0000 http://rrodrigo.edublogs.org/2007/01/26/the-net-generation%e2%80%94richardson-part-3/#comment-190 Just because the world is "flat" doesn't mean you can see everywhere and have been everywhere. These digital immigrants that are coming back to school have been more 'prewired' for the use of the Web 2.0 technologies than older generations and can be quicker to adapt and learn how to use them. Providing of course they allow themselves to learn them and don't be 'refusniks'. I think one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to generalize that all digital immigrants will excel in all the technologies and that they've been exposed to all the new technologies. In my experience working with my students they may not be experienced, but will adapt better to the new tools as long as someone will show them how. My kids, who are of the 'digital native' generation, but because of economics or immigration have not had the luxury of seeing or using these tools, still assimilate new tools easier than my peers who are excited over the possibilities and want to learn to use them. They certainly find the answers to operational problems using the tools than I do. I really think its more of a mindset and expectational response than just "They Know How" type of thing. Just because the world is “flat” doesn’t mean you can see everywhere and have been everywhere. These digital immigrants that are coming back to school have been more ‘prewired’ for the use of the Web 2.0 technologies than older generations and can be quicker to adapt and learn how to use them. Providing of course they allow themselves to learn them and don’t be ‘refusniks’.
I think one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to generalize that all digital immigrants will excel in all the technologies and that they’ve been exposed to all the new technologies. In my experience working with my students they may not be experienced, but will adapt better to the new tools as long as someone will show them how. My kids, who are of the ‘digital native’ generation, but because of economics or immigration have not had the luxury of seeing or using these tools, still assimilate new tools easier than my peers who are excited over the possibilities and want to learn to use them. They certainly find the answers to operational problems using the tools than I do. I really think its more of a mindset and expectational response than just “They Know How” type of thing.

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