Introductory Topic

Whilst writing my first post, I realised it was going to be difficult to create an effective, interesting and engaging piece of work but I soon realised this would be easier to achieve with the use of infographics and Youtube videos.

Through researching into digital migrants and residents I feel like I have been able to think about the world wide web from a new perspective. Before reading about this topic I assumed that I would completely be in the native category as I usually have these tendencies, however, after reading Carl’s comment on my post I realised that rather than seeing migrants and natives as two categories it could be more useful to see this as a spectrum instead.

I am glad that we are given the opportunity to read others post as I believe this helped me understand the topic even further and it was interesting to hear other peoples thoughts. After reading Lakshay’s post I realised that it is possible for some people to still not fully categorise  as a digital resident but may be inclined to transition towards one because of the use of internet around them, I found this point really interesting.

To conclude, the first topic has taught me many skills I did not previously have, I have learnt how to create my own blog, write blog posts, create infographics and view other people’s blog. I believe this is a great way of learning. My views about this topic has also changed after researching it in more detail. I have been able to develop my understanding of the topic be seeing other peoples views  and I have realised that there is not just two categories in which all people will fit and it may be a good idea to consider a spectrum rather than these two clear cut categories.

 

Digital Visitors VS Digital Residents

Digital Visitors and Residents are a simple way of describing how different individuals use the world wide web. This theory is useful in helping us understand why individuals use the web. Pensky firstly divided users by those who were ‘digital immigrants’ and ‘digital natives’  [1]

 

Fiction vs Non-Fiction (1)

VISITORS

  • Visitors use the Web as a tool to carry out a function or complete a task 
  • A digital resident is a person who lives a part of their life online, they are usually a part of a Web community that accommodates relationships and where they can display their online persona  (White, 2008). [2]
  • “We propose that visitors understand the web as akin to an untidy garden tool shed. They have defined a goal or task and go into the shed to select an appropriate tool which they use to attain their goal. Task over, the tool is returned to the shed. It may not have been perfect for the task, but they are happy to make do so long as some progress is made.”
    (White & Cornu 2011) [3]

RESIDENTS

  • Those operating in the Resident mode are online to connect with, or be with other people
  • ” Residents are happy to go online simply to spend time with others and they are likely to consider that they ‘belong’ to a community which is located in the virtual. They have a profile in social networking platforms such as Facebook or Twitter and are comfortable expressing their persona in these online spaces” (White & Cornu 2011) [3]

Pensky also created a Visitor-Resident map which is used to show the range of possible ways of which individuals now have available to them through the web.

I have created a map to illustrate my personal use of the web below:

27744980_10209034924069853_1118998011_o.jpg

Even though the theory of digital residents seems to be dead, it is still accepted by some.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1. On the Horizon, [online] 9(5), pp.1-6. Available at: https://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf [1]

White, D., 2011. Not ‘Natives’ & ‘Immigrants’ but ‘Visitors’ & ‘Residents’. [Online]
Available at: http://tallblog.conted.ox.ac.uk/index.php/2008/07/23/not-natives-immigrants-but-visitors-residents/ 
[Accessed 9 February 2018].

White and Le Cornu (2011). Visitors and Residents: A new Typology for Online Engagement Available at: http://firstmonday.org/article/view/3171/3049 [2]