Are you a native or an immigrant?

     Technology is all around us.  It has a huge impact on the world that we live in.  Our children that are growing up today are living examples of "digital natives."  What is a digital native you ask?  Sounds like something out of the movie "The Matrix," right?  Actually, a digital native is a person that has access to computers and technology their entire lives.  My daughter, who is seven, would be an example of a digital native.  There has never been a time in her life when there was not technology in her home. Now I, on the other hand, would be referred to as a "digital immigrant." That means that when I was born and growing up (born in 1976 if you're wondering), we did not have a computer in our household and I had barely any access to them until I was in my early twenties.  I then started to use computers and technology more and more and am very comfortable with it now, but know that I have differences in the way I use it compared to the natives. I, for one, still prefer to buy music on cd's, where a native would just download.  I know "how" to download it but my memory of my dad buying albums, then tapes and cd's when I was growing up has influenced my preference.

     Now as a fifth grade teacher, I have a room full of digital natives every single day.  26 of them to be exact.  I admit that I am not the greatest at integrating technology into the classroom but I try to do my best and to keep learning trying new things.  I have my students use the Read About program to practice reading skills and comprehension, I have them do research online, type out stories they have written, practice math skills and work on online scavenger hunts.  I believe that some barriers that I face besides my own personal barriers are barriers based on what I have access to. My district does not have Ipads or other similar devices for students and many other things that I have heard teachers in other districts discuss.  You really have to work with what you have when it comes to technology and make the most of it.  Although my students are digital natives, my school is a Title 1 school and many of my students don;t have computers at home so it is great for them to be able to use those at school and I am thankful that we have them.

   The Biblical directive to "Fear Not," applies in this discussion because many teachers, especially digital immigrants do have a bit of a reluctance and fear when it comes to using technology in the classroom when compared to digital natives.  I for one, would never communicate with students through Facebook or Twitter where some natives are comfortable with that.

  Lucky for me I am starting a new course called EDU 554!  I believe that this course will help expose me to the ways that other teachers use technology. I look forward to hearing the ideas that others have as well as sharing my own.  I hope that by the end of this course I will have some new weapons in my technology arsenal that I will have at my disposal.  Check back here to follow this journey and post here if you have any comments or suggestions.  Until next time....