Residents v. Visitors

Dr. White's discussion about residents v. visitors has made me think about the way I classify my students.  I learned the terminology 'digital native' and 'digital immigrant' so long ago that I don't remember where I heard it.  Most probably from the context of a conversation with a fellow teacher, or an administrator.  I had always considered myself a digital native, I grew up in the heart of Silicon Valley and watched the tech boom happen in front of my eyes (so I physically lived where the technology happens, that sounds like a native to me).  My schools always had the latest computers and other gadgets, so using technology comes naturally to me.  But after listening to Dr. White make his case that we should rather look at people as 'residents' or 'visitors' I realize that I am a visitor.  Yes, I have a twitter account, facebook, a recently created instagram, and a newly created website (this one you are reading, in fact!).  I look at the internet as a place to find tools to accomplish either my personal or educational goals.

One quote Dr. White said that stands out to me is, "Just knowing how to use particular technologies makes one no wiser than just knowing how to read words" (White, 2013).  I agree with the sentiment, many of my students can use various tech tools, but they can't seem to figure out when to use the tools in a constructive manner.  This reminds me of a quote by Mark Twain, "A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read."  If our students only learn how to use tools for the sake of learning to use tools, or to be "cool", then they won't discover how to grasp the full potential of the Internet for academic, and later entrepreneurial purposes.  Individual skills don't matter, what matters is the ability for my students to learn in a culture that encourages them to use every tool at their disposal to further their education within and after they leave my classroom.

Even after identifying myself as a visitor and looking at the notes I took while watching the video, I can't help but continue to think of the internet through the eyes of a visitor.  I reference the tools available, when I think of the communities I am a member of; I first think of the privacy, then how will I use this community to create something.  I want to start to challenge myself to think of the internet, not as a bunch of tools and data, but like a pool, when I go swimming I just go to the pool, swim my laps, and not have any agenda or purpose other than swimming.  I think it is going to be difficult for me, but we'll see if I can move in and become a resident.

Twain, M. (2003). A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read. Retrieved June 4, 2015, from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/m/marktwain100303

White, D. (2013, May 31). Visitors and Residents. Retrieved June 4, 2015, from https://youtu.be/0sFBadv04eY.