Presentation for the Washington State Higher Education Technology Conference.

1. Rejecting the Digital Native…
… Embracing the Student
Caitlin A. Bagley
Gonzaga University
Photo: Keith Misner

2. What is a digital native?
• Commonly defined as a person adept at
technology having grown up surrounded by it.
• Harlan (2013) wrote that while new students
may be comfortable in a digital environment
they lack digital literacy
• At the reference desk & instruction we
routinely help students with basic tech issues
• Printers, WiFi, and Flashdrives
Photo: Keith Misner

3. What should I do?
• Try not to make assumptions about skill level.
• Follow up surveys can help you see what
worked/didn’t: both informal & formal.
• Most students are nervous outside their comfort
zone… make sure they know it’s not scary.
Photo: Bethany Legg

4. Credit Where Credit is Due
ie Sources
• Chilsen, P., & Kelley, T. (2014). Digital conversations -- libraries, learning, and literacy. Against the
Grain, 26(1), 44-46.
• Dornisch, M. (2013). The digital divide in classrooms: Teacher technology comfort and evaluations.
Computers in the Schools, 30(3), 210-228. doi:10.1080/07380569.2012.734432
• Fieldhouse, W. (2009). Digital natives: Can information literacy save them from information
anarchy? Refer, 25(3), 1-7.
• Harlan, M. A. (2013). Deconstructing digital natives: An argument for abandoning the metaphor.
CSLA Journal, , 14-16.
• Keengwe, J., & Georgina, D. (2013). Supporting digital natives to learn effectively with technology
tools. International Journal of Information & Communication Technology Education, 9(1), 51-59.
doi:10.4018/jicte.2013010105
• Long, S. A. (2005). WHAT'S NEW IN LIBRARIES? digital natives: If you aren't one, get to know one.
New Library World, 106(3), 187-189. doi:10.1108/03074800510587381
• Schaffhauser, D. (2014). Report: Teachers are better at using technology than digital native
students. T H E Journal, 41(11), 3-3.