Prensky vs. Boyd

    After reviewing the thoughts of Marc Prensky and Danah Boyd in isolation, I am able to make sense of how each idea came together. As Prensky notes, the younger generation is growing up with technology and may be more likely to become more familiar with its uses simply because of the exposure at a young age. However, Danah Boyd makes a good point in her book, "It's Complicated" (2014). Boyd says that assumptions cannot be made about this younger generation's use of technology simply because they are growing up with it (p. 177). There are far too many factors to consider that influence one's ability to use technology. I agree with Boyd when she brings up the issue of access. Every child in America does not have the same uncensored, access to the Internet. Boyd brings up the strong correlations between a child's access to technology and their socioeconomic status (p. 195). Students are being raised in lower-income areas will not have the same technological experiences as those in upper class areas. So while I understand Marc Prensky's ideas and thoughts behind the notion that younger people will be more equipped with technological skills simply because of their age, we cannot rely on this, and in response shut down learning opportunities for all students. Learning opportunities should not be limited just because of someone's age in relation to technological advancements.

    Another factor that I found interesting in these readings was Danah Boyd's mention of students using and assessing technology critically. I can admit that I was a student who was taught that Wikipedia was unreliable because anyone could edit the information. Teachers never really explain what makes a source "credible" and this is something that my students struggle with today. Making sure children and teens are understanding what they are reading, the biases they may encounter, and how to interpret that information. My middle schoolers will often Google a question and copy and paste whatever appears at the top. I often have to explain why this is not acceptable (plagiarism, etc.) but there was no clear class or education around the topic. 

    Marc Prensky's idea that youth are young people or "digital natives" has stuck around and people still go by this thought process. Students are expected to understand technology simply because they are young, but this is not fair. Dana Boyd believes that the youth can be anyone, regardless of age. A "digital native" can be someone in their teens or someone much older. She states at the end of this chapter, "Learning is a lifelong process" (198).

    In my opinion, I align much closer with Danah Boyd on the topic of "digital natives." As someone who works in a lower income area, the issue of access and availability is very real. It cannot be assumed that my students will all come in with the same knowledge about online tasks such as how to open an internet browser or how to conduct a Google search. The simple fact that my students are younger and being born in the time of technological advancements does not mean much when that access is not uniform.