Essay Topic and Resources

I have chosen essay question one: Marc Prensky's "Emerging online life of the digital native" and David Weinberger's "A New World" (this is chapter 1 from a book called "Small Pieces Loosely Joined" which is in the library as a physical book, it's available as an ebook in the GU catalogue, and it's also on the internet for free if you use your google powers!) both present different views of contemporary internet users. In light of your own experiences with new technologies do you think they are accurate portrayals? Discuss why or why not with specific examples.

I chose this question because I want to explore the different uses the internet has for different people. Some use the internet for educational purposes, whilst some use it for criminal activity.

Resource 1: http://www.smallpieces.com/content/chapter1.html

In this resource there is talk about the web putting a jolt through our culture. There is suspicion that perhaps the web is a new world we are inhabiting and it has much more to reveal. It discusses the uncertainty of the web and the unpredictability it holds. It describes the web as having nothing natural in it and having few rules of behavior and lines of authority.

Resource 2: http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-The_Emerging_Online_Life_of_the_Digital_Native-03.pdf


“Students are not just using technology differently today, but are approaching their life and their daily activities differently because of the technology.”
– NetDay survey 2004, Conclusions.

This is a quote that explains in a concise statement what this article is about. The impact of technology on students is changing not just their lives, but the way they do life.

Resource 3: http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Agemw3yIfCIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR12&dq=Contemporary+Internet+Users&ots=IkYJbDSVs0&sig=63Il9KY0TcaB5Mp2_NrexVNrhIM#v=onepage&q=Contemporary%20Internet%20Users&f=false

This resource highlights the Internet in a general sense. It deals with how the internet is concerned with everyday life. This resource will be useful in the discussion of the contemporary internet user and how it relates to their life. It highlights how the internet has changed from primarily being used by elites to being used by common people for common purposes.

Resource 4: http://ssc.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/4/395

This article explores new variables from social-cognitive theory that looks into internet usage. Internet addiction is highlighted and discussed. It raises concerns of internet behavior and will be useful in discussing different behavioral trends.

Resource 5: http://www.cheeps.com/karlmaton/pdf/bjet.pdf

Marc Prensky’s discussion on digital natives led me to another source of information on this type ‘digital natives’. According to this article they are also termed ‘Net generation’. The article highlights that this generation of internet users have been immersed in technology all of their lives.