I have been reading this book over break. I am not done yet. It is a very interesting view of the world. Tapscott looks at how the "Net Generation", those that grew up with the Internet, are impacting and changing the world. He identifies characteristics of netgens. His view gives some insight into not only the future but our own generation and others around us, such as the new president.
Netgens have a need for speed, transparency, resources at their fingertips. Baby boomers, myself included, are deeper thinkers and need quiet to focus. I found it VERY enlightening to think through the concept that baby boomers are receivers of information because they grew up with the television. Netgens want to manipulate and personalize everything. I found myself aguing with the author about some of his perceptions of netgens because the majority of my students are not as focused on technology as the author perceives, however, they are very much immersed in it. I have many dancers, skateboarders, soccer, baseball, football players, cheerleaders, etc. Those experiences are the focus of their lives and so they don't develop the same thinking that those who spend hours and hours online do.
So, the real question is how to teach them and what to teach them. They don't need the factual internal database we have. They will be able to look up the capitals of the states, etc, online anytime they need the info. We need to teach them thinking skills but honestly, in at least one of the areas of thinking that they will need, they have more skills than their teachers do.
Okay, let me give you one fun link, Backyard Paradise, before I go. It is a Pbs.org site and was one of Time.com (Time Magazine)This one would be great for younger kids but I was simply impressed with how it all works. It really speaks to the interactivity of the internet.
More later.
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The book does sound enticing. I'm in the middle of a few books presently and I've still got a list going from back in college days that I may never get to, owing to the fascinating new books that are always coming out.
Anyhow... I think that kids still need the information - the raw facts. Now of course they have easy access to the information on their own, but, teachers need to guide students to a discipline-specific body of easily-available information that comprises the essential knowledge of any discipline. Teachers often talk and learn about scaffolding. In order to reach an understanding about new information we often plug into preexisting student knowledge. The preexisting part still needs to be there to make progress - today's new information is tomorrow's preexisting knowledge. Obviously state capitals and other examples may be exceptions.
Also, critical thinking and reflection are keys to making sense/evaluating the world of information that is the internet. It seems that these are skills that haven't kept pace with the digital media. These skills require practice under the guidance of a good teacher.
Lastly, while some students excel at using and interfacing with the internet and computers, it is amazing how many students require basic instruction on submitting a post to a blog, accessing multiple websites to assemble information and make a specific product, or even to appropriately manage usernames and passwords to get where they need to go. There seems to be room to grow...
I eagerly anticipate more gleaning from your book. It seems to be a good source of fodder for thought!
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