“Today's secondary and even elementary schools are filled with students . . . who are adept at multitasking and using technology in exciting new ways” (McHale, 2005). Students today are referred to as “Digital Natives,” by M. Prensky due to being raised in a technology rich environment (Prensky, 2001). The students I see in my classroom today are very knowledgeable about how to use technology due to growing up in a world that is digitally connected 24/7 through the use of the internet, cell phones, etc. My first graders grow bored very quickly during curriculum instruction if the delivery method is not digitally interactive and visually stimulating. In the featured podcast my students make reference to several educational games I make use of daily in my classroom. Two that they speak of are Ticket to Read, a component of our reading curriculum, which is available to them at school and at home via the internet; the other is Math Quiz Game Show. The latter is a component of our math adoption designed for a game show-like digital experience to review math concepts.
After surveying my entire class I found most of my students had access to a computer at home. In my podcast, students discuss how they use the computer at home and at school, but used them mainly for educational websites and gaming. I interviewed each student separately; they were each very shy as this was the first time they have been recorded. I found their responses enlightening.
Podcast:
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References:
McHale, T. (2005). Portrait of a digital native. Technology & Learning. Retrieved from http://www.techlearning.com/article/4572
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5). Database: Proquest Central Database. Accession Number:1074252411.
For more information on computer programs mentioned:
http://www.tickettoread.com/
http://www.pearsonsuccess.com/
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