Boyd vs. Prensky

While I find Marc Prensky's categorization of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants valuable as a way to consider a potential generational divide around technology, I tend to agree with Dana Boyd's assessment that it's too pat and perhaps dangerously oversimplified.  When we create neat pockets to explain a thing, the pockets are often too shallow.

I have done research into the foreign language acquisition of adults as compared to home language development of infants.  What has been transformative to my teaching is to learn that newer research shows no innate advantage for young learners, but simply a difference of exposure.  Motivation is also critical.  I find myself applying this information to the discussion of digital natives and digital immigrants.  While I want to learn more about the brain changes occurring because of digital exposure, I agree with Boyd that there is no magical relationship between skills and age.  To assume otherwise is to run the risk of passivity, similar to the defeated passivity of adult learners who believe that children have an innate edge when it comes to learning a second language.  It is just too easy and I believe it to be untrue.  

If anything, an adult has a built-in "sound system", the circuitry she used to develop (however unconsciously) her first language and that should, by all logic, create an advantage should it be tapped.  Thus, Boyd's point about valuing the experiences and knowledge of the earlier "settlers" resonates with me, particularly when it comes to critical thinking about the content consumers encounter.  She makes that point beautifully (although not briefly!) in her examination of young learners' perceptions of Wikipedia versus Google.

I also feel strongly, as does Boyd, that there is inequality in this equation in the digital divide created by the privilege required to be "native".  No matter when they are born, young learners have different experiences, background, and economic circumstances that tend to dictate their exposure to technology.  If I were a young student today in the blue collar world of my childhood, I would be at a distinct disadvantage to a wealthy, private school kid.  That is a simple economic truth.  Again, this goes back to exposure (not date of birth) as key.

The Boyd chapter is rich with topics to discuss and I look forward to that.  But to wrap up here, there can be no arguing with its assertion that "we all need opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge to engage with contemporary technology effectively and meaningfully."

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/04/business/digital-native-prensky/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0k-Rx4sht8