Abstract
Technology seems to be here to stay and academics are encouraged to incorporate it into their classrooms. Yet, little has been written about the human side and how the widespread use of technology by students changes the expectations of their effort, the instructor's approach, satisfaction with the learning experience, and the students' ability to apply what they have learned to future coursework or their life. This chapter reports research that informs this topic, synthesizes the current literature as it pertains to technology and pedagogy, and correlates this information with what is known about the development of metacognition during learning in adults. The chapter ends with some helpful approaches.
TopIntroduction
The challenges presented to instructors in the classroom has changed a great deal over the recent past, especially with the proliferation of mobile phones which has impacted the generation that grew up with them. This concern has mixed support. Many researchers believe that this generation, or as they are called, digital natives, learn differently, engage differently, and process differently. However, the empirical evidence suggests that there is no difference between this digital native generation and previous generations, only an additional distraction from the mobile phones. In this chapter, the literature on both sides of the digital nativism argument will be discussed, followed by a discussion of the underlying issues and how to address these in the classroom. Currently, there are strong feelings amongst researchers on both sides of the argument. Rather than support one side over the other, instructors should address the deficits through backward course design; how to address these deficits will also be discussed.
Key Terms in this Chapter
FOMO: Fear of Missing Out is a fear that others are doing something that they want to be included in or the fear connected to the belief that everyone will know some piece of gossip or information and they will not know it in a timely manner.
Nomophobia: The fear of not being able to use or access your mobile phone.
Digital Natives, or Gen-Z, or Homo-Zappiens: Individuals who grew up in a world where technology has always existed. Digital Immigrants are individuals who grew up in a world where technology was still emerging or did not exist.
Social Networks: Websites and applications that allow users to interact with others socially through posting messages, pictures, and engaging in other purely social activities online through their portal.
Cyber-Slacking: The act of using the Internet to go off task, usually during an important task such as studying or in being in class.