In this piece, there are a whole bunch of good points which I would like to share. The first one which I think everyone should hear is that students are learning very different today than they ever have. The students have grown up on TV shows and computer games, their way of gaining knowledge. When teaching in a classroom, the way a student has grown up is vital to having an effective classroom strategy. 

Then the article goes on to talk about how many teachers are not trying to learn and understand how these students are learning and understanding. Teachers teach how they were taught to teach. They do not want to reach out, be creative, and engage the students in the ways the teacher has never before. These people might be set in their ways and not wanting to change their ways but this has a large consequence. Students’ minds are not utilized in the way that their minds are now wired. Because of all this, teachers are not helping, but really, they are hurting.   

Finally, what I think is most important which I would love to pull from this article is that no matter the content or subject, students have the ability to understand, comprehend, and utilize; it just depends on how the material is presented. If presented in a relevant manner, anything is possible to learn, whether or not the student takes interest in the material. Presentation is key. Without having good presentation and making the subject come alive, even if that is through a video game or a computer program, students can learn and retain. 

The is a positive side to these ideas and there is also a negative side. The positive side of this is that now teachers can understand what they need to do. This article opens up the eyes to the reader, now being able to address the problem which has been pushed down and kept quiet in the classroom. My favorite quote from the article in the last little piece, which sums up the whole idea.

“So if Digital Immigrant educators really want to reach Digital Natives – i.e. all their students – they will have to change. It’s high time for them to stop their grousing, and as the Nike motto of the Digital Native generation says, “Just do it!” 

There is also a negative side to the whole idea of transferring all the materials and curriculum to the technology side. There will still be materials and lessons which need to be taught outside of the computers and phones. Using these tools all the time could have a negative affect on the students. Not all students across the board are going to have the same elements as others. Some students might not have a computer or even a phone in their entire home setting. Then, contrasting, a student at home could be drowning in technology and luxuries. How then am I supposed to reach both without boring either. 

After reading through this article, I still have some questions and concerns. As I grew up in the generation between all of this, I am pretty much a Digital Native who knows how to teach as a Digital Immigrant. Is this idea of always formatting materials and lessons in the form of technology good for the students? Are there going to be student who want to do everything with their computer or phone? Are there students who are going to want to use materials other than technology? In a teacher’s perspective, this is both concerning and joyous. There are so many resources which can be utilized with the wonderful technology today. On the other hand, learning things in reading and writing are also valid ways which students can both learn and have a good time doing it as well. With this said, there is really only one option to choose; jump on the digital bandwagon or have extremely ineffective teaching.