When Marc Prensky coined the terms “Digital Native” and “Digital Immigrants” he entered a stream of conversations on what it means to be a person living in the Information Age. According to Prensky Revisited by Jennifer Spiegel, she describes the impact of these terms and how it distinctly classified different generations of technology users into these two groups. Although these terms aimed to organize technology users, it also impacted how the “Digital Native” would be neglected in their development of current and future technological skills. Prensky’s implication on who “Digital Natives” are and what they know has done irreparable damage to school curriculums, student engagement, and academic success outcomes.
Alternatively, Spiegel suggests that the need to educate students on technology is paramount for students to be able to “engage in productive work,” (Spiegel 2018). Instead of leading with the assumption that students inherently understand technology without it being taught to them, she makes it clear that students should be given resources to understand technology as a precursor instead of an afterthought. As an educator, I agree with Spiegel’s stance on technology in the classroom and how it is more beneficial to teach students these skills instead of assuming they have already mastered the basics.
As humans constantly evolve, so does technology. The term “Digital Native” can be used for specific periods of technological advancement, but not as a catch-all for people born in a specific era. No one can be a native of technology or our digital landscape because it is constantly changing and shifting the rules. The goalpost will continue to move forward, but it does not mean people are not capable of learning new skills or using previous skills to work with technology.
Monday, June 29, 2026
What do you make of the positions of Prensky and Spiegel? Where do you stand on the “digital native” terminology?
About Me
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My name is Adrienne Morris and I am an English teacher at Central High School.
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When Marc Prensky coined the terms “Digital Native” and “Digital Immigrants” he entered a stream of conversations on what it means to be a p...
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(Source: Wikipedia Commons) During the final half of my first year as a teacher, I thought about how beneficial it would have been if I taug...
