The other day I posted links to a new report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project about Generations Online in 2009, which disputes the stereotype that the Internet is the domain of the young. Working, learning, participating online is essential to people of many age. Then I saw a new article in the journal Innovate titled "H. Sapiens Digital: From Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives to Digital Wisdom." (Read with free registration.) Author Marc Prensky coined the terms "digital immigrants" and "digital natives" to distinguish between the people who grow up with digital technology and those who started out analog and migrated to the land of digital. He now argues that it is more useful to think in terms of digital wisdom, resulting from interaction of the human mind and digital technology. He says, "Digital technology, I believe, can be used to make us not just smarter but truly wiser. Digital wisdom is a twofold concept, referring both to wisdom arising from the use of digital technology to access cognitive power beyond our innate capacity and to wisdom in the prudent use of technology to enhance our capabilities."
Prensky makes an insightful observation that "the distinction between those who are truly digitally wise and those who are merely digitally clever is important. People who are digitally clever may be very good at manipulating digital technology, but they do so in a way that does not exhibit wisdom and does not help them become wiser. " So just being able to use (or even create) technology, just being ICT literate, isn't enough. We need people who are wise enough to apply new approaches to solve problems or create opportunities.
Hmmm... this gives me food for thought. How might "natives" and "immigrants" develop new wisdom? Can people of all ages be "digitally wise"? Is it time to conceptualize a 21c. melting pot where digital natives and immigrants alike use technology to become wise? As educators, how can we give attention to becoming more wise-- and guide and support our learners as they develop wisdom?
Given the challenges that surround us in these times, we need all kinds of wisdom!