I definitely agree with this article. I do believe that minds today are created and formed differently than minds 50 years ago. They have to be. The information that is retained and used is completely different than it use to be. As the young digital natives grow up, their thirst for knowledge builds and builds and children today seem to be smarter than I was when I was that even. Maybe even smarter than I am now?

Each year, each generation will be smarter than the one before it and I do believe that. When I was observing in Voorhees Middle School, those 7th graders had more spunk and more knowledge than I did. From the way they dressed to the way they answered and questioned the teacher. They were definitely well rounded critical thinkers. When I was in 7th grade my teacher just told us 'why' something happen but now they teach 'how.' 

Every person is different, every experience is different. I do believe the statement in the article that says the thinking patterns change depend on one's experiences (prensky, pg2) The reason why I believe this is because my Voorhees students I observed seemed to raise their hand more and answer questions more than the students I observed in Camden. Why? Voorhees students had so many more technologies used in the classroom and more resources. If they needed to get further information they had access to a computer. My Camden children did not. It does matter what you are exposed to and how you were taught. My Camden children would be classified to me as digital immigrants only because their schools cannot afford it and there for they can not learn it at home. (It might be different at home.. )

I loved the section about attention spans. The reason is because if a child cannot pay attention and read the book, the digital immigrant teachers classify this student as ADD or ADHD. What if they're just really bored? Maybe now that I'm older I notice it but it feels like when I was in elementary school, you rarely heard of such a thing. Now I feel like every school has a handful of these students. It really makes me wonder if MAYBE just MAYBE you brought up to date technology and taught them a lesson they can RELATE to.. would you still consider that child to be ADD or ADHD? Does the digital immigrant teachers even have time to mess around with those new technologies or are they just too lazy? This is something I want to be fully confident in because I will surely challenge that when I am a teacher. I do not want to classify my students as having behavior issues unless I tried everything I can get my hands on to see how fully engaged I can get them into a lesson. Reading a book or playing a video game based on this book? Hmmm today's children recognize interactive activities. That is how you will get them to pay attention and learn. Get on their level !

It's funny about the section and how children only pay attention to TV with or without toys.. I babysit a 16 month old quite regularly  and I am always observing him when the TV is on and the toys are out and it's completely different than when his toys are put away. No matter what he still knows what is going on and when Yo Gabba Gabba song is on his attention is completely on the screen. It makes you think... he is probably still listening and observing the TV while they is playing with his cars. Maybe he can multi task like that since that is how he grew up. He was born into this generation. Every day he is learning something new and I can't believe how smart he is!

As a wrap.. This article is very true and I do agree with what Prensky states about our minds, the development and the new digital technologies.  As future teachers, we must incorporate all of the new and creative ways to teach because the bottom line is.. every student learns differently and once you get to know their niche, that is how you will be successful as a teacher. 

While I was reading this article, so many things came to mind. I thought about when I was first introduced to the computer. I was in Elementary School and it was such a big thing.. My school only had a few and we had to take turns on them. Then as the years went by the library had gotten more and more and soon we were going to the library not to read books, but to use the computers.

I do believe I am a digital native. I was young when this generation started but I remember learning quickly and helping the teachers use this technology. As I progressed through elementary to middle school to high school the computers were used more often. Most of my teachers were digital immigrants and still today I have professors who prefer to not use those technologies. I usually get very frustrated when they do not answer my e-mails because this is the way the world is moving. Instead of credit card statements coming via snail mail, I go paperless and get it e-mailed. I love that I can e-mail Rowan instead of wasting gas and driving up there every time I have an issue or a question. 

I think I am in the perfect time to be going through my teacher preparation program because I can become a teacher who is fully prepared and up to date with technologies. Even in the elementary setting, I can see Twitter being used or even blogging. Instead of having my students do a daily journal in their notebooks they can pull out their laptops, writing a blog and posting it to our classroom website.

The article discussed that teachers today should be able to teach both digital natives and digital immigrants. I do agree with that statement but I don't think it will be needed for the future. All of the digital immigrant teachers will be retired and digital natives are going to be digitally advanced and we being the teachers will have to step up our game and apply these technologies in the classroom. 

I really like the idea of teachers creating video games to teach a lesson, that is how today's world is. Everyone I know.. young and old.. play Xbox! If we related a math lesson or history lesson using xbox, the students will be able to relate so easily and learn at the same time. Thats is how teaching should be done to keep interest and to have fun. Most students don't even realize how much they are learning while they are enjoying themselves.

The classic digital immigrant does say to learn and study in a quiet place like a library or in your room with no music or TV.. I am one of those people that need that background noise.. Even if it a fan or TV with low volume. Many people I know my age and younger are just like me. That "no noise" while studying is as almost outdated as cursive writing. 

This article definitely took me down memory lane when I started using technologies and how I grew into the learner I am now and the teacher I will become. I think it's exciting to be in the digital generation I am now. I find it even more exciting that the technologies will grow and expand and I just have to make sure I keep on learning and updating my knowledge.