Editorial Introducing BYOD Many have been the times my children have asked
speakers” of the digital language of computers,
the question “why?” After providing some passable
video games and the Internet.
answer, their next logical move was again to question “but why?” This process would continue
Those of us not born into this digital world, but have
for some time until I would end the proceedings
adopted aspects of its technology, are described as
with “You are too young to understand.” This ritual
Digital Immigrants. This would describe many of the
question and response format was brought into
people involved in the evening I spent discussing
stark reality for me recently when I was asked to
social media. Many said they felt a certain disconnect
be part of a panel to comment on the phenomena
between the digital world of their children, and the
of social media. After an evening spent discussing
world they were familiar with. The world, which
Face book, Twitter, and the like, I felt a growing
their children inhabited, seemed way beyond their
conviction that I was out of my depth, and simply
expertise. I know what they are saying, because I
too old to comprehend!
feel the same way. My challenge is to learn as much as I can about this new technology, because this is
One thing I do know is that our students are
the world young people inhabit, a world where there
embroiled in a world that is foreign to many, the
are few rules of engagement, and a world where
world of digital technology. To paraphrase Marc
tomorrow is today. Our goal at Ōtūmoetai College
Prensky’s work, our students today represent the
is to continue to modernise the school experience,
first generation to grow up with this new technology.
to embrace integrated technologies, in order to
They have spent their entire lives surrounded by,
support the learning for every student within a safe
and using computers, cell phones, and all manner
and respectful online environment.
of other toys and tools of the digital age. Prensky describes these kids as Digital Natives, “native
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