Today's Student

Throughout this weeks studies at Walden University we have been discussing the "Digital Native" (Prensky, M., 2001). A "Digital Native" is a person who grew up surrounded by technology and continues to use various technological devices. Many of the students that we teach in schools today are considered "Digital Natives". It is important that as educators we seek to understand "Digital Natives" because according to Marc Prensky, "Today's students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors" (Prensky, M., 2001). As teachers we can no longer teach the way that we were taught in the past.

In my podcast entitled, "Today's Student" you will hear me analyze the three interviews I conducted on 16-17 year old students from Puyallup, Washington. Each student was asked questions about their use of technology both in and out of school. At the end of my analysis you will hear me explain what sort of implications this will have on my teaching when the school year begins in September. Hearing today's students describe the lack of technology in their classroom experiences makes me realize the importance of understanding and meeting the learning needs of my diverse students.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5).