Digital Natives Many of our students fall into this category of people who are comfortable with all kinds of technology. There's a good definition of what a digital native is from Tom McHale. Many people consider most technology, like email, IM, the web, a distraction from the task at hand. As Will Richardson notes:

what if technologies like IM were part of the educational process instead of a distraction from it? "Schools don't use IM. It's unbelievable," he says. "Everyone in the business world uses IM."

I admit to feeling at home in the digital world and I do use IM occasionally in my work and in the class environment. Books can also be a distraction if you're not reading the book you're supposed to be reading for class.

There's some really interesting research coming out about how differently these students participate in learning. Many have been too quick to dismiss this difference as inferior, but I think with the proper guidance and integration of technology, we can really capitalize on this difference and make learning more sticky.

via Educational Technology ¶ 11:49 AM, posted by Laura