Digital Natives or Mobile Natives Peter Gobel Kyoto

Digital Natives or Mobile Natives? Peter Gobel Kyoto Sangyo University pgobel@cc. kyoto-su. ac. jp Makimi Kano Kyoto Sangyo University makimik@cc. kyoto-su. ac. jp

Terminology ‘Digital Native’ -- Prensky (2001) ‘Net Generation’ Tapscott (1998) people born in the digital era, i. e. , after 1980. ‘Digital Immigrants’ those born prior to the digital era.

Debate Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach. (Prensky, 2001) Are they a distinct generation? Should education change to accommodate them?

Digital Data ‘Facts’ 87. 2% of Japanese households have access to a computer 67. 1% of households are online over 90% under 50 s are online (MIC, 2009) ranking 6 th and 18 th among the 40 OECD countries respectively (OECD, 2010). Japan --highest mobile phone ownership in the world (Takahashi, 2008); largest number of 3 G mobile phone users (MIC, 2009)

Effect of Technology on Learners cognitive skills development socialization academic achievement Effect of Web 2. 0

The Hypothetical Gap Digital Natives Digital Immigrants Digital Settlers

Digital Natives and Computer Competency Lee & Raniery, 2010 ‘digital natives’ in China not necessarily digitally competent competence differed depending on school and age competence not significantly influenced by PC ownership, Internet access/use.

Student Learning Preferences Preference for paper-based materials (Jarvis & Szymczyk, 2009)

The Present Study Examine Japanese university students’ use of digital technology academic non-academic settings Examine student preferences digital paper-based

The Questionnaire 75 questions background information familiarity with software and websites use of mobile phones and computers learning preferences

The Respondents 367 students (286+51) 8 faculties (1 Faculty Treated Separately) 250 (203+47) male 87 (83+4) female Mostly Age 18 -19 Half living with family, Half living away from home

The Results

Phone vs. Computer Science

When and Where? Time

Digital Pictures

What do they use? Website youtube yahoo google mixi moodle amazon rakuten twitter facebook excite myspace Software 1. 38 1. 52 1. 71 1. 87 2. 1 2. 35 2. 59 2. 76 3. 05 3. 52 3. 64 word i. Tunes excel skype powerpoint mediaplayer realplayer openoffice moviemaker i. Movie prezi 2. 11 2. 15 2. 44 2. 46 2. 58 2. 76 3. 31 3. 56 3. 62 3. 63 1: use a lot 2: sometimes 3: know, but don't use 4: don't know

Activities using Phone Sending email Using bookmarks Social networking Checking school info Listening to music Using a search engine Watching movies or TV Playing games Downloading music Editing photos and movies Research for a report 1. 33 1. 71 1. 95 2. 07 2. 13 2. 22 2. 33 2. 46 2. 53 1: use a lot 2: sometimes 3: know, but don't use 4: don't know

Activities using computer Checking school info Research for a report Writing a report Using bookmarks Watching movies or TV Using a search engine Listening to music Downloading music Online Shopping Social networking Playing games 1. 55 1. 59 1. 63 1. 66 1. 81 2. 17 2. 31 2. 59 1: use a lot 2: sometimes 3: know, but don't use 4: don't know

Learning Preferences

Conclusion Data supports Helsper & Eynon (2010) rethink ‘digital Native’ assumptions exposure and experience not necessarily key our students are more ‘mobile natives’

conclusions II we need to understand learners to teach them well Digital Education necessary teachers and students may ‘speak the same language’ what about the administration?

Thank you