Technology is part of my everyday life. Since I
instruct technology lessons to students in grades K-5 and am the schools technician,
I live and breathe technology. I would consider myself to have a “millennial
learning style.” I absolutely love what I do! When I am in front of the
classroom using the Smartboard, document camera, laptop, or iPad guiding
students on the lesson for the day I am totally engaged. I learn something new every
day whether it is from the students or by researching information on the
internet. Watching the children learn and create a presentation on the topic at
hand is extremely rewarding. I gained my knowledge of fixing and repairing the
equipment by pulling up manuals and information off the internet. The district
has not provided any formal training on repairing equipment. The process of
gaining that knowledge has been full of challenges, successes, and failures. The
failures push me to learn more.
My job has opened the door for me to want to learn
everything there is to know and how children learn. If I had not obtained my
current position in the school district six years ago I would not know what I
do now. Technology has opened my eyes to a new world and allowed me to obtain a
degree in something I am truly passionate about. Without that door being opened I would most
likely be a digital immigrant.
Technology is all around us and part of our daily lives.
The choice comes to live with it or dive into it. That choice is a personal one
for digital immigrants. Age should not be classified as a factor in where a
person is a digital immigrant or a digital native.
References:
Dede, C. (2005). Planning for neomillennial learning
styles. Educause Quarterly, 1, 7–12.
Prensky,
M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5).
Prensky, M.
(2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants part II: Do they really think
differently?, On the Horizon, 9(6).
