Double Entry Journal #8

1.     What was the term “Digital Native” meant to be used as?

The “Digital Native” was intended to be a metaphor for describing the differences that many people observed, around the turn of the twenty-first century, between the attitudes of younger and older people regarding digital technology (Thomas).

2.     According to the author what are the characteristics associated with Digital Natives?

Digital Natives have more comfort with digital technology, their beliefs in its ease, its usefulness, and its being generally benign, and about their seeing technology as a fun “partner” that they can master, without much effort, if they are shown or choose to (Thomas).

3.     Do you consider yourself a Digital Native?

I do, however I tend to be slightly behind some of my peers. 

4.     What is Digital Wisdom?

Digital wisdom is a two fold concept, referring both to wisdom of digital technology to access cognitive power beyond our innate capacity and to wisdom in the prudent use of technology to enhance our capabilities (Thomas).

5.     How does the author define “wisdom”?

The author defines “wisdom” as the ability to find practical, creative, contextually appropriate, and emotionally satisfying solutions to complicated human problems (Thomas).

6.     How can technology enhance our Wisdom? Give three examples from the chapter? 

It gives us a source of information outside of our own minds. 

1.)   Enhancing Our Access to Data

2.)   Enhancing Our Insight into Others

3.)   Enhancing Our Access to Alternate perspective

7.     What concerns did Socrates have about the technology of writing?

In Plato’s The Phaedrus, Socrates objected to writing on the basis that it undermines the memory, that writing would diminish ones memory (Thomas).   

8.     How can teachers practice Digital Wisdom?

By using it everyday with their students. 

9.     The author states that he is “…opposed to those who claim the unenhanced mind and unaided thinking are somehow superior to the enhanced mind.” Are you? Why or why not?

No I am not. I am Not at all superior to anything   

Resources:

News Article on Technology Tradeoff

Above is a link to a news article that analyzes the effects of the Internet on the human mind. I felt it appropriate sense I was speaking of the tradeoff that technology poses in peoples everyday life.

Thomas, M. (2011). Deconstructing the Digital Natives. New York: Routledge.