Articles written by Marc Prensky (who gave the definitions of Digital Native and Digital Immigrant)---MaJunna

Articles written by Marc Prensky (who gave the definitions of Digital Native and Digital Immigrant)

1.  Teaching the Right Stuff–Not Yesterday's Stuff or Today's, but Tomorrow's(In Educational Technology, May-June 2012)

2. Time Travel as Punishment: What our kids REALLY hate (in Educational Technology, Jan-Feb 2013)

3. Trivia vs. Power: Let's be clear on exactly how we are using technology in education (in Educational Technology, Jul-Aug 2012)

4. What ISN’T Technology Good At? Part I–Empathy! (in Educational Technology, Sept-Oct 2012)

5. What ISN’T Technology Good At? Part II–Passion! (in Educational Technology, Nov-Dec 2012)


The first three articles give us a similar idea--it’s a digital world, and we must understand what are digital natives’ needs and wants. Technology is a part of our lives. We can’t ignore it, or resist it. Maybe we are digital immigrants, but in the future, this will be digital natives’ world. It’s a trend which will never be back.

In the article--”Teaching the Right Stuff -- Not Yesterday’s Stuff or Today’s, but Tomorrow’s “, I really like three steps of Literate Person:

1. Yesterday’s Literate Person, Write a letter, Write a report, Write an essay;
2. Today’s Literate Person, Write an e-mail, Make a PowerPoint, Write a blog post;
3. Tomorrow’s Literate Person, Work in a Virtual community, Make a video, Write a program.

This is a trend in Marc Prensky’s mind. He is trying to forecast future and show his exceptions. However, in the last two articles, he also mentioned that IT is a part of education, but not the whole of education. He gives us two parts which technology is not good at -- Empathy and Passion.

I agree with Part Two-- Passion. We are human beings, and we need communicate with each others in the real world. Kids always lack of self-control, and that is one important reason why we need schools and teachers. Teachers can be tutors, supervisors, advisers, and mentors, and play an very important role in students’ lives.

Passion—the intense interest and a desire to know and do more (an intensely biological trait)—is the most important element to promote and encourage in our students. Passion is the students’ true motivator. (What ISN'T Technology Good At? Part II–Passion!, Educational Technology, Nov-Dec 2012)

Although IT is becoming more and more non-ignore in education, we still can’t educate without schools and teachers. There are always something that technology can’t take place.


By Ma Junna (Riley)