I have spent most of my working life in Leichhardt – Sydney’ little Italy. Immigrant culture is a wonderful thing . Come to a new world with an open mind and a willingness to work and you will learn by absorption and filtration. If you are set in your ways and do not leave the safety of the home you will scarcely move at all. The working man - even if he is a labourer and has no need of written English, but he will soon become proficient as he needs language in order to survive. He learns from his work mates. Whereas his wife can survive in the home without the need to expand her horizons. She can survive by staying in her own comfort zone. Shop where they speak her own language and use the skills of the rapid learners ( her children who are not afraid to make mistakes) Our students are our teachers in this digital world. I do and will continue to use them and learn from them.
Neuroplasticity is a concept that has been written about at length by Norman DOIDGE in the Brain that Changed itself http://www.normandoidge.com/normandoidge/MAIN.html . His hypotheses is that the brain structure is not fixed and that by immersion and intensive training, new skills can be acquired and old skills that have been lost can be regained. – Use it of Lose it
I therefore intend to leap in to this wonderful new age to acquire the skills and proficiency of the digital native. But books will always be a joy and pleasure. But if I am looking for up to date medical information I would always look on the net first.
Great analogy. However, some key differences which I think make the challenge to learn the 'digital language' unique: When in a new community, new culture, the amount of time available to be practising the skills greatly influences the level of learning. This can be managed by having a smaller 'world' to be working within.However, with computer skills, the 'world' is enormous, with the new information, jargon, concepts, increasing at a rate which is faster than a novice can learn, and so requires a huge investment of time. Then, there is the feedback - which comes quickly when you are interacting in community - not always in words, but body language also. Feedback is not so easily read when you are 'trying something new' in a digital language. Good feedback definately makes the assimilation into new culture and new language easier. Maybe we should be asking our students for this???
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