The mystery of the digital natives' existence: Questioning the validity of the Prenskian metaphor

First Monday ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasqualina Sorrentino
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Educational System ◽  
Generation Y ◽  
Digital Natives ◽  
Net Generation ◽  
Digital Native ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Past

Net Generation (Tapscott, 2009, 1998; Oblinger and Oblinger, 2005), Generation Y (Zhao and Liu, 2008; Halse and Mallinson, 2009), Millennials (Howe and Strauss, 2000), Homo Zappiens (Veen, 2003) and i-Generation (Rosen, 2010). The labels used to describe the generation of young people and their relation with technology are numerous. Over the past few years, one of the notions, which might have had more echoes among parents, teachers, and policy-makers is those of “digital natives” introduced in 2001 by Mark Prensky. The metaphor has had enduring influence on how the educational system perceives students and technology. Most scholars do not like it, for various reasons. Among other problems, the term implies that technological abilities are innate rather than taught and learned. The aim of this contribution is not to join the existing debate about the existence of digital native but to examine if there is any empirical evidence to support the use of that metaphor in the first place, questioning its usefulness to depict particular generations of young people.

Digital Natives

2012 ◽  
pp. 212-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Bennett
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Young People ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Digital Natives ◽  
Net Generation ◽  
Technology Skills ◽  
Digital Native ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Digital Divides ◽  
Central Claim

The term “digital native” was popularized by Prensky (2001) as a means of distinguishing young people who are highly technologically literate and engaged. His central claim was that because of immersion in digital technologies from birth, younger people think and learn differently than older generations. Tapscott (1998) had proposed a similar idea, calling it “The Net Generation,” and there have been numerous labels applied to the same supposed phenomena since. Recent research has revealed that the term is misapplied when used to generalize about an entire generation, and instead indicates that only a small sub-set of the population fits this characterization. This research shows significant diversity in the technology skills, knowledge, and interests of young people, and suggests that there are important “digital divides,” which are ignored by the digital native concept. This chapter synthesizes key findings from Europe, North America, and Australia and predicts future directions for research in this area.

Catering to the Needs of the “Digital Natives” or Educating the “Net Generation”?

2013 ◽  
pp. 1134-1151
Author(s):  
Thomas Ryberg ◽  
Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld ◽  
Chris Jones
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Digital Natives ◽  
Social Software ◽  
Net Generation ◽  
Web 2.0 Technologies ◽  
Online Web

In this chapter, the authors explore perspectives on the notion of “digital natives” and present a case in which Web 2.0 technologies were introduced to students. They discuss studies critical of the generational metaphor, and argue that it should not be uncritically assumed that there is a generation of digital natives, but that young people may need to develop skills often associated with the digital natives. The authors present a case reflecting these pedagogical aims, involving an online Web 2.0 learning environment called Ekademia. The findings of the case reflect a gap between the researchers’ intentions and the actual outcomes. In particular, the learning environment failed to provide sufficient scaffolding for the students, who needed more support than was assumed. It is therefore suggested that educational use of social software technologies should have stronger connections to curricular activities, involve a more concerted pedagogical effort, and be supported by a higher degree of institutionalization.

Catering to the Needs of the “Digital Natives” or Educating the “Net Generation”?

2010 ◽  
pp. 301-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Ryberg ◽  
Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld ◽  
Chris Jones
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Digital Natives ◽  
Social Software ◽  
Net Generation ◽  
Web 2.0 Technologies ◽  
Online Web

In this chapter, the authors explore perspectives on the notion of “digital natives” and present a case in which Web 2.0 technologies were introduced to students. They discuss studies critical of the generational metaphor, and argue that it should not be uncritically assumed that there is a generation of digital natives, but that young people may need to develop skills often associated with the digital natives. The authors present a case reflecting these pedagogical aims, involving an online Web 2.0 learning environment called Ekademia. The findings of the case reflect a gap between the researchers’ intentions and the actual outcomes. In particular, the learning environment failed to provide sufficient scaffolding for the students, who needed more support than was assumed. It is therefore suggested that educational use of social software technologies should have stronger connections to curricular activities, involve a more concerted pedagogical effort, and be supported by a higher degree of institutionalization.

scholarly journals Innovative capabilities and strategic alliances: Who is gaining what in the pharmaceutical industry?

1969 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa Ohba ◽  
Paulo N Figueiredo
Keyword(s):  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Strategic Alliances ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
Entry And Exit ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Corporate Managers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Innovative Capabilities

There have been several respected studies, from a capability-based perspective, pointing to the emergence of a new division of innovative labour in the pharmaceutical industry over the past decades. We still, however, miss empirical evidence relative to the implications of collaborative arrangements, like strategic alliances, for the innovative capabilities of companies involved in such collaborative arrangements. Drawing on a scrutiny of specialised databases (Galé, Dialog, and Business & Industry) covering the 1993–2003 period, this paper examines the entry and exit composition of innovative capabilities of 25 pharmaceutical companies' capabilities involved in such alliances. They are organised in three groups: (i) large pharmaceutical companies ('big-pharma'); (ii) large bio-pharmaceutical companies ('bio-pharma'); and (iii) small and research-intensive companies. The evidence shows the extent to which each of these three types companies, particularly large companies, benefit from these alliances in terms of absorption of strategic pieces of innovative capabilities. Such type of evidence is important to provide researchers, corporate managers, and policy makers with a concrete notion of some features of the nature of such division of innovative labour that occurs and the actual changes going on in the structure and organisation of innovative activities in the pharmaceutical industry.

scholarly journals Owning ICT: Student Use and Ownership of Technology

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-94
Author(s):  
Yuwanuch GULATEE ◽  
Barbara COMBES
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
University Students ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Internet Banking ◽  
Digital Natives ◽  
Grocery Store ◽  
First Century ◽  
Digital Native ◽  
Thai University

Mid-way through the second decade of the twenty-first century, young people are still being touted as digital natives in a world where technology is increasingly ubiquitous in nature. Technology appears in all levels of society, from the grocery store self-serve, Internet banking and shopping, to the classroom. This paper reports on the initial findings of a much larger study conducted in a Thai university that explores how students use technology for learning. The paper also discusses ownership of technology and examines the myth of the digital native. The research is based on an earlier PhD study conducted across 2 universities in Western Australia. Findings from the current research indicate that attitudes to technology and cultures of technology use amongst young people have changed little since the original study’s data collection 7 years ago. However, there are subtle differences in how Thai university students use technology for learning.

scholarly journals Digital Natives or Digital Refugees?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Combes
Keyword(s):  
Generation Y ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Digital Natives ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Net Generation ◽  
Online Environment ◽  
Teacher Librarians ◽  
Information Landscape

This research forum paper presents the conclusion of a much broader PhD study which examines the information-seeking behaviour of the Net Generation or Generation Y. The overarching premise of this study centres on the belief that a greater understanding of how young adults seek and interact with information and the online environment, is an important first step in developing strategies to prepare them for tertiary education, the workplace and a future that will be characterised by an increasingly complex and constantly evolving information landscape. This paper will present the final analysis of the PhD findings, discuss what this means for the current generation of students and examine where schools and particularly teacher librarians need to focus if we are to cater for future generations.

scholarly journals The rise and fall (?) of the digital natives

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry Judd
Keyword(s):  
Educational Technology ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Digital Natives ◽  
Net Generation ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Digital Native ◽  
Adoption And Implementation ◽  
Search Data ◽  
Academic Search ◽  
Contrary Evidence

Building on the earlier net generation and millennials concepts, Prensky popularised the notion of a generation of “digital native” students through his 2001 two-part series “Digital natives, digital immigrants”. Although his ideas about how students perceive and utilise technology resonated with many educators, they lacked supporting evidence. Subsequent investigations, which informed the so-called “digital natives debate”, produced largely contrary evidence and dissenting views. As dissemination and acceptance of this evidence grew, interest in the idea of students as digital natives should have waned. However, a detailed analysis of general and academic search data and of articles published in leading educational technology journals (between 1998 and 2017) suggests that this interest remains strong. Although references to digital natives and the related terms net generation and millennials in educational technology journals has declined somewhat (having peaked in 2011), public and general academic search interest in these terms – and presumably the ideas that underpin them – continues to grow. These trends are discussed from an historical perspective, considering how our acceptance (or rejection) of the digital natives concept has developed, and the potential past, present and future impact of this on technology adoption and implementation practices within our universities.

Socially Shared Regulation of Learning: A Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernesto Panadero ◽  
Sanna Järvelä
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Learning Theory ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Social Regulation ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Optimal Form ◽  
Self Regulated Learning ◽  
The Past ◽  
Recorded Observation ◽  
Socially Shared Regulation

Abstract. Socially shared regulation of learning (SSRL) has been recognized as a new and growing field in the framework of self-regulated learning theory in the past decade. In the present review, we examine the empirical evidence to support such a phenomenon. A total of 17 articles addressing SSRL were identified, 13 of which presented empirical evidence. Through a narrative review it could be concluded that there is enough data to maintain the existence of SSRL in comparison to other social regulation (e.g., co-regulation). It was found that most of the SSRL research has focused on characterizing phenomena through the use of mixed methods through qualitative data, mostly video-recorded observation data. Also, SSRL seems to contribute to students’ performance. Finally, the article discusses the need for the field to move forward, exploring the best conditions to promote SSRL, clarifying whether SSRL is always the optimal form of collaboration, and identifying more aspects of groups’ characteristics.

Corporeità, movimento e benessere: il potenziale educativo di itinerari motorio-sportivi inclusivi giovanili

2019 ◽  
pp. 3121-334
Author(s):  
Carmen Palumbo ◽  
Antinea Ambretti ◽  
Giovanna Ferraioli
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Personalized Learning ◽  
Barriers To Learning ◽  
Educational Value ◽  
School Activities ◽  
The Past ◽  
Full Participation ◽  
Inclusive Approach ◽  
Teaching Learning

Over the past few decades, the adoption of an inclusive approach to education has stimulated a reflection on the educational value of body and movement within teaching-learning process in order to break down all barriers to learning and promote the full participation of young people to school activities. Indeed,body and movement represent an important didactic "medium" for developing individualized and personalized learning paths that take into account the specific needs and characteristics of students thus contributing to their global and harmonious development.

Macedonia Faculties’ Students - “Chrisi Avgi” (Right Party) Followers’ Critique on the Greek Educational Policy

2014 ◽  
Vol 2013 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalerante Evagelia
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Educational Policy ◽  
Educational System ◽  
Political Party ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
History Books

AbstractThe present paper is involved with the Pedagogical faculties’ students’ critique on the current educational system as it has been altered after 1981. The research was carried out utilizing both quantitative and qualitative tools. Students-voters participated in the interviews whereas active voters were difficult to be located to meet the research requirements. The dynamics of the specific political party is based on a popular profile in terms of standpoints related to economic, social and political issues. The research findings depict the students’ strong wish for a change of the curricula and a turn towards History and Religion as well as an elevation of the Greek historic events, as the History books that have been written and taught at schools over the past years contributed to the downgrading of the Greek national and cultural identity. There is also a students’ strong belief that globalization and the immigrants’ presence in Greece have functioned in a negative way against the Greek ideal. Therefore, an overall change of the educational content could open the path towards the reconstruction of the moral values and the Greek national identity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document