Prensky's and Kirschner's Research

 Prensky and Kirschner have written about two sides to the concept of an immigrant/native approach to learning and technology's role in how a generation learns. Prensky believes that a group of people raised without the presence of technology and a younger group who were always around technology, do learn differently and essentially speak different languages to each other. Kirschner's approach is that this isn't true, and there is no such thing as a digital native or immigrant who is more skilled and informed just because they were more or less exposed to technology. 

According to Prensky, what category do you fall into, and how has this affected your learning?

I say that I could fall into the digital native mostly, and possibly the first part of my life as a digital immigrant. I remember a time when we did not have a computer or anything highly technical, no internet, and just a landline phone. I was born in 1988 and remember maybe around the second grade going to a computer lab and seeing a computer for the first time. Most of our class time we did not have access to computers and would go to the separate lab maybe once a day or a few times a week, where we would play learning games, and the occasional Oregon Trail. 

This has affected my learning by making my brain a little quicker when it comes to computers. I'm still not the best with computers, and taking online classes within the past 4 years have greatly improved my skills. Although, I do better with reading physical books as opposed to reading something digital.

What are some other myths Kirschner associated with Prensky's findings from 2001? 

Some myths that Kirschner associate with Prensky's findings are that digital natives are naturally good multitaskers and do better with technology. These statements really have not much evidence proving this, and just because someone grew up with technology doesn't mean they are always good at multitasking or savvy when it comes to computers. I'd say I fall in the category of not being very technically skilled but grew up mostly with computers around. 

Sources

• Prensky, M. R. (2012). From digital natives to digital wisdom : Hopeful essays for 21st century learning. Corwin Press.
• Kirschner, P. A., & De Bruyckere, P. (2017). The myths of the digital native and the multitasker. Teaching and Teacher Education, 67, 135–142.