Digital Natives

Digital immigrants and digital natives are found at complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Digital Natives wrinkle their eyebrows when someone asks for a handwritten copy of an essay. Digital immigrants have a panic attack when someone requests an email to be forwarded to another recipient. I consider myself to be a digital native. I do not know all of the amazing things that computers can offer, but I am fluent in most computer programs. However, my grandmother is a perfect example of a digital native. She sits down at a computer, clicks "yes" to any window that happens to open up, and any task that she needs to complete takes a minimum of one hour. For me, I grow frustrated with her inability to learn this "easy" idea of technology. This article reminded me that she did not grow up with this technology and that it is important to be patient. My future students will have grown up around technology as well. They will be digital natives. However, I am bound to run into many coworkers who are digital immigrants. They will not be familiar (or willing to work) with technology. As the digital native, I need to be patient with the people who have not been as fortunate to grow up alongside technological developments.