After taking the digital natives quiz, I found that I am much closer to a digital native than immigrant. I knew and have used four of the six terms. The only two which I had never heard of before were "modding" and "smart mobs." For this reason, I would say that the term "emergent" really does not apply to my own digital literacy. I have used technology for as long as I can remember; my parents have always had a word processor or a computer, and I began learning how to use computers at school when I was in kindergarten. When I make this assumption about my own digital learning, I am taking into account Tompkins definition of an emergent learner in respect to literacy. She describes emergent learners as those who are gaining "an understanding of the communicative purpose of print and develop an interest in reading and writing..." (p. 91). She also explains how children are moving from pretend to real reading during this stage. Since I have been using technology from such a young age, I have long developed an interest for and an understanding of how technology can be used, especially for communicative purposes. I have been using AIM since the 5th grade, so I have had much experiencing with e-mail and instant messaging. If I were to categorize myself as an emergent, beginning or fluent literacy learner, I would say that I am fairly fluent. I have taken courses which teach about or use different types of technology (such as blogs, wikis, and digital stories) or which have taught about typing programs or Microsoft word programs. Whenever I have taken these classes, I have picked up quite quickly on using the technologies. I know how to use these technologies effectively and troubleshoot when I encounter problems, just as a fluent reader uses comprehension strategies effectively (p. 95). I do well organizing and creating various technologies and am able to do so with relatively little trouble. From the reading and our class discussions, emergent learners are those who are just beginning to learn how to properly utilize and comprehend the subject which they are learning. I do not really consider myself as a emergent digital literacy learner at all, because I can easily pick up on new technologies and concepts and use them effectively.
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Elissa-I am totally the opposite of you. I am uncomfortable with new technologies and when things go wrong I don't like experimenting or trying to fix them. I just call my dad, who is great at computers. It is strange how I was surrounded by technology all throughout my youth like you but I never developed the interest in it that you did. My dad always had the latest games and programs on our multiple computers and I played games and used instant messaging for as long as I can remember but it just never stuck with me. I think that since I had my dad there to fix any problems I had, I never went out on my own to try new things with technology. Were your parents good with computers and always teaching you new things or did you kind of discover them on your own? I can easily use microsoft word, excel and those programs but I never really tried new things like wikis or blogs until college. I wish I was more comfortable with it and not just an emergent digital literacy learner but hopefully I can improve my status throughout this class.
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