Digital Natives Vs Digital Immigrants

Personally, I would identify as a digital native. Born in the year 1993, I was alive for most of the current advancements in digital technologies. I use and enjoy most of what the world of technology has to offer to me. I love keeping up with the latest technology trends. With that being said, I do not feel frustrated with my studies as a result of the way technology is used and not used. Being that I am completing my graduate studies online, and most of my courses are teaching me how to implement technology, I feel that technology is being used appropriately. If I am presented with a situation in which I do not know how to use certain technologies, I will become frustrated. However, I will usually "google" and teach myself how to use that certain technology. 

After reading and watching the provided articles and videos about Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants, I feel the stigma us Digital Natives receive is troubling. I definitely do not think I am attached to my devices or unable to interact socially in real life. I also do not think that just because I am a Digital Native, does not mean I do not have the potential to know the implications that technology may bring, as stated by Sree Sreenivasan in Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants. In that sense, I sometimes feel like I am in between. I love technology and I love what it brings to the world of education. However, I do see how too much technology can be a bad thing. I also believe that not everything can be solved with a digital answer; that sometimes, the more traditional route is better.

Podcasting

Podcasting is the process of using the Internet to make audio recordings. Users can then download those recordings to a computer or mobile device. Not only can Podcasts be used for entertainment purposes, they can also be used as a learning tool. In my 5h grade class, we're currently discussing persuasive articles, and how to use those articles to formulate your own opinion on a topic. As I was diving into the world of Podcasting, I realized I could use them in order to teach this topic to my students.

To do this, I would have my students listen to a Podcast about a certain news story. Then, I would have them list pros and cons of that certain topic that they learned about in the Podcast. Next, I would have them write their own Persuasive essay based on the facts they learned about in the Podcast.

Many Podcasts can work for this proposed assignment. However, this one, found on Freakonomics, would fit perfectly. It is especially great for my students who have English as a second language. They would be able to both listen and read a transcript of the Podcast which proposes the question, "Thinking Is Expensive. Who’s Supposed to Pay for It?" In short, this Podcast discusses how "corporations and rich people donate billions to their favorite think tanks and foundations." It will have students questioning, "should we be grateful for their generosity — or suspicious of their motives?"

This platform allows students to receive the information in both auditory and visual forms. It also is short and to the point, which is essential for younger students who may not have the capability to attend to a longer Podcast. My students will listen to this Podcast and formulate their own opinions on the topic. They will pick a side; do they think you should be grateful for donations made from the wealthy, or suspicious of their motives? They will then write their own persuasive essays. This assignment would be aligned with the following NYS Learning Standard:

Performance Indicator - ESL.I.5-8.2.1.1: Students read, listen to, view, write about, and discuss texts and performances from a wide range of authors, subjects, and genres.

TED-Ed Lessons

TED-Ed is a platform that allows used to create lessons based off of engaging videos. Users can choose a TED Talk videos, other TED-ed videos, or other videos found on YouTube to create their lessons. Introductions, thinking questions, discussion questions, and closures can be added to supplement the video lessons.

I created my TED-Ed lesson on a question I get asked constantly by my 5th grades; "Why do we have to read?" It's hard to explain question to explain to a 10 year old who would rather be playing outside or on their phones than reading a book. I love John Green and his YouTube video series called CrashCourse. I've used it personally in the past to refresh my memory on certain topics before I taught them. His videos are engaging and straight to the point. Viewers don't have to waste time reading between the lines in order to find the message of the video.

TED-Ed lessons are beneficial for students who have English as a second language. TED-Ed lessons can help students reach certain learning standards. They can help students "listen, speak, read, and write in English for information and understanding." (NYLearns) Like in a flipped classroom model, TED-Ed lessons allow ESL students to control the pace of their learning. They can pause and rewind the videos to better comprehend the lesson. Through TED-Ed lessons, students can learn how to listen with a purpose, thus allowing students to make conclusions about that topic. This falls under the following NYS Learning Standards performance indicator;

Performance Indicator - ESL.I.5-8.1.1.6: Students make and support inferences about information and ideas with reference to features in oral and written text.