Article Response 1

Your name: Gabe Asper Email: gabeasper@hotmail.com Date: 9/18/07
Article Title: Listen to the Natives Author: Marc Prensky

This article is about challenges to teaching in the digital age. The article illustrates the point that today’s students are integrated into a technology system from an early age. They have many technological skills. They are quick to learn new technologies. They use technology outside of the classroom on a daily basis. The article is making the point that teachers need to begin using the technological talents of their pupils in the classroom. Teachers need to start bringing different forms of technology into their daily lessons. They need to be experimenting with ways of incorporating technology into their curriculum.

1. Educators have entered the digital age doing things the same way they used to.
2. Students are “digital natives” adults are “digital immigrants”.
3. Teachers must practice putting engagement before content when teaching.
4. Today’s students lack engagement and motivation.
5. Programming is the key skill necessary for 21st century literacy.

I have been aware of the conflict that this article brings up for a long time. As a language arts teacher I always feel that the schools I’ve worked at have not provided me with the tools for success. The students view English as their most painful subject, especially when they come from an ELL background. I have always said “If only I had a computer for each student!" If there was a classroom set of computers for each teacher in every school, then teaching could truly move in a new direction. As a language arts teacher I would love to do word processing and typing skills with my students on every writing assignment.