4) Our Kids Are Not Like Us: They're Natives, We're Immigrants
5) Do They Really Think Differently?
6) The Emerging Online Life of the Digital Native
In this next section of the book Prensky ask adults to look at their kids as "digital natives"; a word coined by Prensky meaning people who were born in a digital age and understand the concepts of technology.
This also provides a good base for his argument, because it gives parents a new persecutive about their children. Many parents either aren't familiar with the concept of the digital divide, nor are they aware of the idea that they might be seen as digital immigrants in this current day and age. I think this thought isn't very relatable for many parents because they were raised with the ideal that parents are always the most knowledgeable in the family dynamic. Prensky completely challenges this concept and brings a new perspective to the audience.
When focusing on the subject of digital natives, Prensky takes into consideration the current educational system. He insists that these current children are no longer the people that this education was designed to teach.
He then gets into many scientific studies that are focused around brain neuroplasticity. He talks about the malleability of our brains and how they function when in front of computers. He argues that digital natives have actually changed brain function and this is in part why adults don't understand the appeal of video games. This is a valid argument and definitely starts to convince me of his argument. By using scientific research to talk about the way our brains are working and how video games can enhance this kind of thinking, I am more open to the idea of video games teaching kids.
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