Double Journal Entry #10

Chapter #3: Students, the Net Generation, and Digital Natives

1. What is the fundamental problem with the discourses around children's use of technology?

The biggest problem is a "teacher-centered" approach to education. In a time where a technological shift has taken place, the biggest issue is not keeping up with these times and not tailoring to those who are growing with those advancements.

2. What is meant by the term "moral panic"? Link to an image, online article, cartoon, or some other resource that depicts the "moral panic" associated with young people's use of digital technologies.

Moral panic, is the identifying of a certain group as a threat to society, this group is then put in the media forefront in order to put said society on notice. Black Panthers:http://www.blackpanther.org/

3. How do you feel about engaging in more  "collaborative learning" during your education at Fairmont State? I feel as though, this is the new way to teach today's students. I also think that students can build leadership skills because more diverse opinions can help a student develop their reasoning skills.

4. Do you think Universities should move to a more free-market based privatization business model? Why?

I do only in the since that the consumer(or student) should have free range to access  whatever they desire for their education.

5. According to the author what is wrong with Prenskey's revised position on his definition of "digital native"? Do you agree with this authors criticism  of Prenskey's view of the role technology plays in the education of young people? I do agree I just believe that the author isn't fighting the opinion but more or less expecting more from Prenskey. I feel that his point is great but maybe more effort and thought should be added.

6. What are the characteristics of Millennial? Are you a Millennial? Millennials are those who have a high exposure to technology and their core values are community, technology, and affluence. I consider myself a millennial because I value the same things and my way of thinking is congruent with the times of high technology and expanded thinking.

7. Do you think there is such a thing as the "Net Generation"? Why? Why not? I do think so because people that were born after a certain time have more exposure to technology giving them a better grasp on the content that comes with it.

8. What is meant by the term "networked individualism"? The term comes from the thought that more communication should be people to people, opposed to place to place.

9. How would you feel about Fairmont State discontinuing the use of Blackboard and Webmail to using Gmail and Google tools? I would be indifferent to it because these two share the same tools, but with the Google tools less maintenance issues and more frequent upgrades.

10. Why does the term "Digital Native" persist despite lack of empirical evidence of age related difference due to rapid increase of digital technologies? I think it is still there because the stigma associated with older people and technology is still there. I do think that there is a difference in the grasping of the information however no evidence can be shown as to the competence.

11. Who societal sector seems to be benefiting the most from the social construction of a "Digital Native" generation? I would say that the younger generation benefits because to employers assume that we are more technology-savvy as opposed to an older applicant who may have more experience with the same technology.

12. Which argument about "digital natives" needs to be discarded and which one needs to be explored? Why?The main one i would discard would be the gap in the age groups because that is a huge hindrance on older people looking for jobs in the tech field. I think that argument that younger people readily accept new technology should be looked into a little more because if their is no gap in the understanding who is to say that older people don't accept new technology just as readily?