Digital natives: Present status and debate

Abstract

The concept of digital natives implies the theoretical presupposition on the smarter learner of the digital age. They believe that, there are some distinctions between digital natives and digital immigrants. For instance: the stronger learning ability, more talent to master new technique, handling multiple tasks simultaneously and so on. For these new learners, the educational change is to be effected. on the contrary, Through questionnaire survey and interview, the scholars consider the cognitive difference between digital natives and digital immigrants come into being mainly from the age differences rather than the application of IT. By analyzing the existing research literature, the show that there are three reasons: first, the different research background between the two sides; second, for lack of quantification study and realistic data, the parties are unable to persuade each other; third, for lack of future research to the teaching scene, issues essence can not be clarified. Moreover, there are some errors in the understanding of digital natives. The age should not be the sole criterion for digital natives. Digital natives not only live in computer network environment, but also have good skills in computer and network so that they are related closely with information degree of its environment.