Jun 01 07
We’re Coming. Are you ready?
By Stephanie Trinh, University of San Francisco senior / SNP intern
Before you can answer that question, let me tell you a little about who “we” are. “We” or “Digital Natives”, a phrase coined by educator Mark Prensky, refers to persons who have been “born into” the era of social media – whose use of AIM, MySpace, and Facebook are not only a part of every day life, but so much so, that its use has become as mundane as brushing teeth.Just to give you a better grasp on the situation, consider the fact that we (the twenty something’s) have been using AIM, or instant messaging since we started learning long division — and as high school Freshman, blogging on MySpace was as normal as writing notes in class. So, what does this all mean for you? It means that in the next few years, we’re going to make up your workforce, your audience, and we’re expecting the same type of connection and speed that we have now. So you better think quick on how you’re going to use it – whether you like it or not.
Just another thing to take into consideration – the twenty-somethings have become accustomed to a fast-paced world that revolves around a computer screen. Once these “Digital Natives” formally enter the work force, expect fast results!