Who and What are Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives??

Who and what are Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives??

As defined by Prensky, Digital Immigrants are individuals who were "not born into the digital world" (Prensky, 2001).  In contrast, Digital Immigrants are individuals who were born into the digital world. 

The importance of the distinction is this: As Digital Immigrants learn – like all immigrants, some better than others – to adapt to their environment, they always retain, to some degree, their "accent," that is, their foot in the past. The “digital immigrant accent” can be seen in such things as turning to the Internet for information second rather than first, or in reading the manual for a program rather than assuming that the program itself will teach us to use it. Today’s older folk were "socialized" differently from their kids, and are now in the process of learning a new language. And a language learned later in life, scientists tell us, goes into a different part of the brain.

There are hundreds of examples of the digital immigrant accent. They include printing out your email (or having your secretary print it out for you – an even “thicker” accent); needing to print out a document written on the computer in order to edit it (rather than just editing on the screen); and bringing people physically into your office to see an interesting web site (rather than just sending them the URL). I’m sure you can think of one or two examples of your own without much effort. My own favorite example is the “Did you get my email?” phone call. Those of us who are Digital Immigrants can, and should, laugh at ourselves and our “accent.”

(Prensky, p. 1, 2001)

Digital Immigrants represent a considerably large number of Adult Learners who are enrolling in Online Learning.  These Adult Learners are struggling to learn the new language of the digital world. 

Finding a way to coexist is extremely important and educators who fall into either category (Digital Immigrant or Digital Native) need to be aware that they have a duty to ensure that these two distinctly different groups of learners are accommodated.  In my opinion, the educational system should be prepared to nurture both types of immigrants.  Opportunities by instructors should be created to allow Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives to learn from each other.
If you are still confused about what Digital Immigrants, and Digital Natives have to do with Adult Learners ability to participate in Online Learning just remember this.  Adult Learners who have not participated in an Online Learning environment or are just entering post-secondary education via ABE (Adult Basic Education) they are more than likely going to require some form of remediation to catch up to speed with your students OLM who are Digital Natives.  To assist you my next post discusses the various challenges that Digital Immigrants face and how these two groups can work together to bridge the gap.  

References:

Prensky, M. (2001, October). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf