Digital Natives in my Classroom

After reading and discussing "The Digital World of Young Children: Impact on Emergent Literacy", I have metamophosized as a teacher. Previously, I had not given much thought to the Digital Era and its impact on literacy. If anything, I thought of it as a distractor and detractor from learning. I think I get it now.

The change worldwide in childrens interaction with computers, internet, digitized toys, video games and even cell phones is impacting their approach on learning and literacy. "These changes present a revolutionary phenomenon in child development and must be understood. Factors that might be affected include attention, information processing speed, social collaboration, attitudes and digital literacy." That's huge and cannot be ignored.

As an educator, I need to realize that my students are Digital Natives and to embrace all that that means. My role is to use technology in a meaningful, real way in my instruction, act as a catalyst to my students in interpreting the information and facilitate my students and parents in finding appropriate programs and games that enhance the students' learning. I will need to accept that my students may be more tech savvy than I am; therefore, there will be times when roles will switch and my students will teach me about the fast-evolving digitized world.