A synopsis of Milton Chen's Education Nation: Six Leading Edges of Innovation.

1. The Youth Edge
 This edge describes learners today and how they differ
from those generations before; more specifically the
learners as “digital natives” and how their teachers as
“digital immigrants” relate to them within the school
system (2010, p. 213).
 Chen describes these learners as “Today’s students
were born in this new land, are fluent in its new
language, and are comfortable with its customs and
behaviors” (2010, p. 213).
 The differences between these learners and the way in
which they learn will need to be addressed in
education, curriculum and best practices.

2. Digital Generation Project
 In2007, Edutopia profiled ten digital
natives and used their digital profiles to
construct three themes of digital use:
 Creating
 Collaborating
 Teaching

3. Creating with Digital Resources
 Students today are using technology tools
to “express themselves, interpret the world
around them, and deepen their
understanding of academic content”
(Chen, 2010, p.228).
 Some of these creations include:
 Music, video, websites, stories, graphics

4. Collaborating with Digital
Resources
 Today’s generation socialize and work
together using online forums, games, and
social media.
 These students form friendships and other
supportive relationships online and
maintain these relationships through a
host of web tools; twitter, Facebook, IM,
wikis, and game consoles.

5. Teaching with Digital
Resources
 The digital generation is using online
forums to teach and guide other learners
 Students use websites, blogs, and develop
multimedia resources for others to use in
order to learn about different concepts.
 These teaching opportunities give
students confidence and a chance to be
leaders within online learning
communities.