Palfrey
and Gasser (2008) inform us that digital narrative was born in the 1980; after
that they developed at an excessive rate. Interestingly they believe that
digital narrative and technologies can either impress or annoy you; I have
witnesses a perfect example of that with my grandparents. My Scottish Granddad
is absolutely fascinated in the digital age and all elements of technology; he
has asked for a Kindle for his birthday and is always “surfing the net” to shop
and to research. MY granddad is a big research fan, he is always fascinated in
the latest development in technology; recently he keeps repeatedly telling me
about the latest development in ‘naaanu technology’, I can only assume he means
‘Nano technology’. Despite being interested and being able to navigate his way
around a computer; he is considered a ‘digital immigrant’ according to Palfrey
and Gasser (2008) because he was born prior to the 1980s and did not have any teaching
of digital technologies nor does he engage with emails or social networking
sites. Surely, Palfrey and Gasser (2008) have not considered that people can
learn later in life? Although, arguably they are right because despite digital
technologies impressing my Granddad; he still cannot send a simple email and
often phones up numerous companies to help him fix an issue on his computer.
In relation, Palfrey and Gasser (2008)
consider children to be digital natives because they are growing up in a world
surrounded by technology, multimodal texts and digital narratives; they engage
on a daily basis and cannot function in society without online identities
according to Palfrey and Gasser (2008). Actually I would argue against this! I
listen to iPods, I use technology, read kindles and engage in social networking
sites – but that does not mean I cannot function in society! Nor does it mean
children cannot! Providing you teach them the necessary skills.
Palfrey
and Gasser (2008) also state that human relationships is second nature to
‘digital natives’; I would actually argue against this, understandably many
young adults do arrange social gatherings on social networking sites, and yes
it does pose a sense of insecurity and safety danger, but with large amounts of
people it is less time consuming and allows you to contact people that you
would not have previously been able to without technology. Yes, we have letters
– but social media and emails are a much speedier way of contacting people. In
conclusion, I feel all teachers should constantly evaluate their stance in
regards to digital media. There are endless limitations and benefits to the
debate, but, ultimately, it is the children’s needs at heart. Digital
narratives are central to the digital age in current society; we need to be
aware of this and teach children in regards to it. However, I pose the
question… are we forgetting childhood amongst the need for digital literacy?
Palfrey,
J. & Gasser, U. (2008) Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of
Digital Natives New York: Basic Books
(Introduction p. 1 – 15) (pdf on LN)
That is an interesting question you pose. I do agree that in some instances childhood is being forgotten in the way that we experienced it, however access to these new technologies and ways which can be used to enhance and improve both education and entertainment were not there before, and so do you not think that perhaps instead of being completely forgotten, childhood is just changing and adapting to these new technologies? It could be argued that childhood is just embracing them?
ReplyDeleteBecause of the increase and accessibility of technology I believe society, education, employment and lifestyle is just changing in order to function and meet with the new demands, and that to an extent childhood is trying to keep up with these needs and changes too.
I agree with the point you raise by Palfrey and Gasser (2008) that children now need some connection with technology in order to function within society, such as by using a mobile phone or a computer to communicate for both educational reasons and within their future employment. However like you I do not believe they need an 'online identity' to currently function in society as it stands; although I can imagine that it will not be long until they do so.
I love what you wrote about your Granddad and I think it is admirable how generations whom did not grow up with access to such technology, welcome the challenge of using it. I have one grandparent who embraces new technologies, desperately trying to learn how to text, surf the internet and send emails. However my other grandparents refuse to adapt their lifestyles by using it and vouch to stick with what they are accustomed too. They still buy a paper every day to find out the latest news, and despite living in the middle of nowhere they refuse to try internet shopping, ignoring all of our suggestions of which could make their lives easier!!
The generation of our grandparents did not grow up surrounded by such technologies and they were not learning how to use them as a child as if they were second nature to them. These technologies were once alien to what they were accustomed to for most of their life, and so although they are learning to use them later in life they are embracing them a lot later than say the digital natives, and it is something they are choosing to engage with opposed to being brought up believing that is the only way. In light of this do you not agree with Palfrey and Gasser (2008) in that our grandparents are digital immigrants?