Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Digital Learners: An International Empirical Integrative Review of the Literature
The author, preparing for a new position as a doctoral research faculty at the American College of Education (ACE), conducted an extensive integrated literature review of “digital natives” and related terms. Focus of the review was directed specifically around digital learners defined as those born between 1980 and 1994. The results clearly revealed a variety of definitions for “digital natives” and “digital immigrants” with no specific clarification or research-based rationale. In addition, strong evidence points toward little connection between a student’s age and digital skills and increased learning. Much of the research suggests that students’ digital competence may be much lower than their “digital professors.”
