1) The document discusses the concept of "digital natives" and argues that students' relationship with information and communication technologies (ICT) is more complex than the characterization of being native speakers of digital languages. 2) It outlines Hong Kong's ICT learning targets for pre-college students, which focus on basic computer operations and software skills. 3) The document suggests that ICT integration in non-ICT courses and an ICT facilitator are essential to effectively develop students' ICT capabilities.

1. Understanding the Digital Natives:
A Rethinking of ICT Literacy in Hong Kong
WANG, Tianchong
The University of Hong Kong
TOWEY, Dave
BNU-HKBU United International College

2. Digital Native
• “Our students today are all ‘native speaker’ of
the digital language of computers, video games
and the internet.” (Prensky, 2001)

3. Digital Native ???
• The dynamics of who exactly is and who is not (Jenkins, 2007)
• Students’ relationship with ICT tend to be more complex than
one digital native characterization (Bennett et. al, 2008)
Distinction line in different social context
• Not all Digital Natives are equal. (Shah, 2009)
• Visitors and Residents (White and Le Cornu, 2011)
• Digital Wisdom (Prensky, 2012)

4. IT General Curriculum in HK
(Pre-college)
• Information Technology Learning Targets (HK SAR
Education Bureau, 2000)
• A guideline for schools to develop students’
capability in using IT
• Stratified the years of schooling into 5 stages, with a
series of specified competencies identified as
expected to be attained by completion of each stage

5. IT Skills in the Guideline
• Basic operation of computers
• Input Chinese characters with handwriting recognition
devices and/or with the aid of input methods
• Use software package of word processing, calculation,
presentation, image processing, etc.
• Access information via internet, communicate via email,
verify and evaluate information accuracy and reliability
• Etc.

9. Pedagogical Suggestions
• Blending of the subjects with ICT
• ICT Facilitator is ESSENTIAL
• Develop a link between what the what the
students are capable with ICT and the ICT
Integration in Non-ICT course classroom

10. ICT Capability at University Level
• Notebook Computer Ownership Scheme since 1998
• Students who did not own computers would perhaps
be at a disadvantage in their studies (Lee, 2002)
• The participation rates in HKU’s Programme
averaged 80% for the freshmen students (Lee, 2002)

11. ICT Capability at University Level
• IT Proficiency Test
• The courses YITC1001 and YITC1002
• Graduation Requirements since 1998
• Target skills related to basic areas such as
document processing, presentation software,
and information search strategies

12. ICT Capability at University Level
• Discontinued since the 2010-2011 curriculum
• Less necessary?

14. Pedagogical Suggestions
• Digital Toolkit
• Students need know what is available and have the
ability decide what is the best tool(s) for their
learning.
• ICT Support Centre? CITE?

15. • “Adding wings to caterpillars does not create
butterflies, it creates awkward and dysfunctional
caterpillars. Butterflies are created through
transformation.” - Stephanie Marshall

16. Thank You
WANG, Tianchong
The University of Hong Kong
TOWEY, Dave
BNU-HKBU United International College