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Digital Natives

Adoption of technology in learning is something inevitable. Digital Natives, Yet Strangers to the Web is a web article written by alia Wong 21 April, 2015. The author writes the article as an explanation of the debates surrounding the use of technology in learning. Academic institutions are busy implementing the use of technology in there learning and on the other hand singing the negative impact of technology on learning. This ends up creating a confusion in the education word and hence children, or rather students who are heavy users of technology but lacks in-depth understanding of how technology and the internet really works. The author writes this article targeting the public with high reading levels and interest. Stakeholders in the education industry could also be a potential target or even other writers. In this paper, I will evaluate the legitimacy of some of the significant arguments of the author in relation to the impact of technology.

The author is tries to disprove the idea of raising awareness on the effects of technology while implementing the same. He states that “Educational institutions across the board are certainly embracing the digital revolution, adopting cutting-edge classroom technology and raising awareness about the perils and possibilities of the Internet” (Wong, pg. 3). I think certainly this is the way to go because as much as technology is such a good thin, there are perils on the other side. Therefore, raising awareness on the perils of technology is just but a way of preparing children and students to be aware of possible challenges posed by the use of technology hence prepare in advance. The fact that technology is useful does not mean that we should overlook its potential negative impacts.

Wong argues that old folks are the main reason for lack of effective implementation of technology in academic institutions. To some extent it might be true but at the same time the real reason is lack of proper training of these teachers. A teacher, regardless of the age, if given the right training before implementation of a technological program in schools. I don’t think blaming old teachers is a credible reason as to why most institutions are lagging behind in technology. Moreover, I don’t think that an institution can have such a high number of technology illiterate teachers to affect leanings through technology.

One thing that I seem to agree with the author is that increased use of technology has created a generation of “teens who immersed in social media but does not have the required skills to make the most out of online experiences” (Wong, pg. 2). This fights the notion that digital natives have more knowledge on how technology affects or rather shapes humans’ experiences and character. Only a few of them understands the things such as algorithms are used to in advertising through bringing up of suggestions. True to the suggestion of the author, programs and campaigns need to be established to help the young generation develop an intrinsic view on how the functionality of the internet and technology in general.

The argument that guardians and parents exaggerate the negative impact of technology is somehow contemptable. I think every parent will always want the best for his/her kid. Parents must have experienced the negative effects of technology personally or observed it in their kids before concluding on the effects that technology has on children. Perhaps their intention is to not to discredit technology but raise awareness and make sure that their children are protected against any potential harm. Cyberbullying against children is not something new. In response to this, parents have had to formulate precautionary measures themselves to make sure their children are secured from cyber-criminals and other unnecessary online content. So, I totally dispute the claims that, “Adults respond to such incidents with fear mongering and information campaigns” (Wong, pg. 5).

Thought-out the article, the author seems to criticize the academic institutions of implementing technology without guiding the students on the possible effects and potential harm posed by this technology. I don’t really think that such an initiative ought to be considered as a main agenda of an academic institution. Technology is just an asset for improving the education experience. Perhaps such initiatives ought to be carried out as separate campaigns or in co-curriculum activities but not in the main education curriculum. Apart from parental control, regular seminars, among other initiatives can be arranged to educate young adults on the influence of too much consumption of technology and perhaps how they can utilize it and profit from it.

I agree with the author that technology has a way bigger impact other than helping people become “savvy coders and prolific e-book readers”. Through technology, the internet to be precise, children are exposed to a lot of things which they are likely to emulate. Moreover, they can be exposed to sexualized content which at the end of the day has an impact on there morals. I would agree with the writer that such incidences bring about "a distorted view of the digital world," (Wong, pg. 4).

In conclusion, there are propositions made by the author that I find valid and others that I don’t agree with. Things that I agree with is that increased use of technology has created a young generation that only knows to use social media but does not understand the wider scope of technology associated with it. they have unknowingly become addicts of technology with no knowledge of the underlying facts about it. Perhaps this is because of lack of guidance. On the other hand, I disagree with the author on claims that the old teachers are the reason as to why technology cannot be effectively implemented in institutions. Regardless of the age, if given proper training, they will adopt and get used to it. perhaps, we are moving toward a generation that is characterized by intense use of technology and we cannot stop it but rather take the necessary precautions.

Work Cited

Wong, Alia. "Digital natives, yet strangers to the web." The Atlantic.