Digital+natives+or+digital+refugees.+Why+we+have+failed+Generation+Y.

Barabara Coombes (Australia) – Digital natives or digital refugees? Why we have failed Generation Y.
==· The ‘net generation’ or the ‘connected generation’ – people born post-1984. == ==· They learn by discovery, investigation and experience. == ==· Tapscott and Prensky’s term, “net generation” – coined with a business purpose in mind. They are quoted as authorities and their work has longevity on the web (through their own websites) but their claims are not substantiated by research. == ==· Assumption that Gen Y and Z are ‘tech savvy’ and that older people are behind and have to ‘catch up’. ==

Research findings :
==· Involved first year university students == ==· Net generation use internet nearly every day, mainly for a small range of communication technologies – email and MSN, as well as library databases == ==· They use technology to satisfy a need, not for its own sake == ==· They could live without the Internet but not without their mobile phone or printer. == ==· Ipods are used for music, not for podcasts == ==· They feel they are confident users of the internet for study == ==· They have lower levels of confidence in evaluating, collecting, organising, storing and finding information for later use. == ==· None of them planned their information seeking == ==· They had problems finding and refinding useful information == ==· Nearly 20% students disliked using the internet for study == ==· Students lacked awareness of how search engines work, and the difference between search engines and subject directories. == ==· The most confident students were least successful in the tasks, typically: == ==<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">- scanning too quickly == ==<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">- clicking and flicking between windows, leading to anxiety and frustration == ==<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">- printing from the screen rather than making notes from the screen == ==<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">- using back button extensively rather than browser facilities == ==<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· If unsuccessful, they assumed that the information was not available online rather than doubt the effectiveness of their research skills. ==

Recommendation:
==<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Information and ICT literacy skills need to be taught from primary school, before students’ poor research skills become entrenched. == ==<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontweight: bold; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Computers should be shown to be complementary tools, not the only answer to our information needs. ==