Digital natives are the generations that have grown up with technology, using computers and digital devices their whole lives. They respond quickly online, prefer visuals over text, and are adept at multitasking and collaboration with technology. Digital immigrants are older generations that grew up without technology and had to adapt to new digital tools later in life, responding in a more linear fashion and preferring text over images. The major differences between the two groups are speed of response, information processing styles, and experimental attitudes toward technology.

1. Company
BCOM301
LOGO
Digital Natives & Digital Immigrants
Chunyan Duan, Stephanie Onyeador, Megan Berkley

2. Questions
BCOM301
What are digital natives?
Who do we know that is a digital native?
How are you born into being a native?
Who are digital immigrants?
What are the major differences between them?

3. Digital Natives
BCOM301
Daily basis on digital A
new
Growing
generation
up with
technology
Born Digital
digital
Natives
Quick
and
efficient
Rapidly
do
everything
online
Company Logo

4. Digital Immigrants
BCOM301
Text
Tools Tools
 Desktop  Scanner
 Laptop  Mobile
 Printer Digital  iPod
Immigrants
Text

5. Comparison
BCOM301
The major differences
Digital Natives Digital Immigrants
 Immediacy of response  Not as quick with
 Random, non-linear responses
information  Precise, linear
 Image preferred to text information
 Technology adaptive  Text is preferred
and experimental  More basic and non-
 Multi-tasking experimental
 Collaborative  One task at a time
 Problem solving & task
oriented

6. Summary
BCOM301
“the first generations to grow up with…new
technology. They have spent their entire lives
surrounded by and using computers, videogames,
digital music players, video cams, cell phones, and
all the other tools and toys of the digital
age…Computer games, email, the Internet, cell
phones and instant messaging are integral parts of
their lives.”
(Prensky, 2001)

7. Company
BCOM301
LOGO