Critically Evaluating Prensky in a Language Learning Context: The "Digital Natives/Immigrants Debate" and Its Implications for CALL

Autor/inn/en	Benini, Silvia; Murray, Liam
Titel	Critically Evaluating Prensky in a Language Learning Context: The "Digital Natives/Immigrants Debate" and Its Implications for CALL
Quelle	(2013), (6 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Computer Assisted Instruction; Second Language Learning; Theories; Case Studies; Secondary School Students; Foreign Countries; Technology Uses in Education; Secondary School Teachers; Computer Attitudes; Teacher Attitudes; Computer Literacy; Mixed Methods Research; Questionnaires; Semi Structured Interviews; Focus Groups; Ireland + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Computer based training; Computerunterstützter Unterricht; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Theory; Theorie; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Sekundarschüler; Ausland; Technology enhanced learning; Technology aided learning; Technologieunterstütztes Lernen; Lehrerverhalten; Computerkenntnisse; Fragebogen; Irland
Abstract	More than 10 years have passed since the first introduction of the term "digital natives" in Prensky's (2001a, 2001b) two seminal articles. Prensky argues that students today, having grown up in the Digital Age, learn differently from their predecessors, or "digital immigrants". As such, the pedagogical tools and methods used to educate the Natives are outdated. Consequently, many educational professionals became convinced that the ways in which today's students think and learn have been qualitatively changed by their use of information and communication technology (ICT). Indeed, the analogy introduced by Prensky is very appealing, however, no significant empirical evidence exists to support this conjecture and neither facts nor evidence tested in everyday practice have been provided. This paper aims to critically examine the underlying "digital native" theory by reviewing some recent studies questioning the existence of digital natives and presenting some of the current findings from a major case study. The study involves Irish secondary school students and their approach and use of new technologies for language learning. By monitoring and interviewing the students and their teachers, it is intended to provide evidence and information to reflect on some key topics such as the use of ICT for language learning during and outside the class, the analysis of students' skills (as putative digital natives) within language learning, and the attitude of teachers and tutors toward technologies. Overall, it is intended to examine if the current evidence resulting from this study validates Prensky's digital native theory. [For full proceedings, see ED565044.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01