ICT for Meaningful Learning

Part A

Definition of a Digital Native

Someone who is born when digital technologies are already in existence and live with the convenience of computers, internet, mobile phones and other technological devices.

Characteristics of Digital Natives

What are they good at?

1. Developing hypertext minds
2. Enhanced thinking skills
3. Interacting with others across the globe - teachers, parents, employers
4. Articulating well in the digital language of computers and other technologies
5. Dealing out visual and dynamic information through games
6. Discovery-based learning
7. Control over complicated technology skills
8. Taking risks
9. Being very creative

What are they bad at?

1. Including reflection and critical thinking in the learning process through gaming
2. Easily frustrated when things do not go their way
3. Too dependent on technology that they prefer being in an electornic environment with online friends

Comparison between both good and bad

1. They are good at multitasking and multiprocessing but bad in holding on to their concentration and cognitive overload.
2. They have longer attention span for games but shorter attention span for reading.
3. Thyey are good at practising something that is visually enhancing but bad at practising something that is boring.
4. They are good at being online for hours but bad in using that amount of time being online to do other things, e.g. practising piano.
5. They are good at sending lots of emails, smses, etc but interactions are a little shallow with little thinking and evaluation.
6. They are good at talking things out because they are not afraid to speak up but they are very self-centered and is careless of the feelings of others
7. They are good in creating multiple personalities by being someone they can never be in reality or someone that reflects their reality but bad in drawing the line between providing confidential information to strangers online

The portrait that I am going to review on is Sam, 13 years old. Through the clip, I realise that students nowadays learn through a very different yet interesting way compared to our precursors. One thing for sure is that students nowadays are not afraid to take risks and develop a method of learning which is through trial and error especially if it is through a game that contains different levels of accomplishment. And like what Sam quoted, “If something doesn’t work out, just go back and try something else.”



Sam is similar compared to a Singaporean student in the ways that she is also pretty much involved with school activities and outside school activities like the band but always have the time to surf online and do a lot of interactions with others. I am sure that students nowadays have a second life through digital media. The digital media allows them to explore many great things, engaging them to a discovery-learning based and also to speak up for themselves. Students do act much crazier in second life. Second life provides space for students to “fit in” with others. The popularity of expressing themselves through video blogging, like how Sam did, instead of writing them down on their blogs, is steadily increasing. (Slowly but surely) Students would also go into the expense of purchasing eBooks because it will help them learn something faster as the eBook will read to them what is written.

Teachers nowadays would have to keep up with digital native because these are the only things that would maximize learning for students. Rather than the traditional reading from the textbook or doing worksheets, make a video or a PowerPoint with interesting effects that could engage students out of the lesson. Any means of digital interaction would most likely be support effective learning. This distinctively different learning style would be a challenge but it would help mould our students’ learning at the end of the day.


Part B

In the future, most of the things that are likely to be automated. Robots would replace humans that would help to eliminate human errors. In line with the movie I-robot, Human errors are potential hazards to inefficiency or the decrease of productivity. Human errors can prove costly to any industries. Automated mechanisms or technology can help reduce errors and are more reliable. Technology is a convenient tool and it reduces time for work to be done. Technology provides a no barrier communication. Therefore, the possibility of being somewhere else through digital means can happen just by inserting a disk and you are there, exploring the place in the convenience of being in your own room without going through the trouble of going to that place.

The only fear that I have is that we are going to be too dependent on technology that it removes critical thinking since technology is doing everything for us. Other than that, with the uprising and continuous improving technology, I fear that it can be too complicating for us to keep up with. NIE has allowed us to be prepared to teach lessons that would be more meaningful for the students through the means of ICT. For me to be prepared for my teaching in the future, I would need to keep up with the latest technology and find what are the things that students are into so that I could get more connected with my students. I would also explore the various ICT I could use in my lesson, not only to make works as relatively simple for my students in the shortest way possible but at the same time, getting them actively engaged in my lessons.


With that, I would like to end this reflection with a video. Do watch it and hopefully technology allows us to go far beyond than what we have in the future. And this is just so cool! Enjoy!

The Pomegranate Phone. The best phone you've never heard of.