Ingrid Melve suggested that being a Digital Native may be a matter of attitude rather than age. Digital Natives think “of course I can”, they are ready to move on when dissatisfied, ready to try (and fail) and have huge digital self-confidence. But although their digital confidence and digital skills are high, their digital competence – the ability to assess and learn from resources – may be much lower than those of their digitally nervous teachers.
NRENs have made available technologies that users no longer see as technology – the stage when they can really have impact. But we have also created huge expectations: meeting this challenge will require us to adapt our mindsets and approaches. But we have the tools: skills, willingness to learn and excellent contact networks. It’s been great fun renewing and extending mine this week.
