Study: 'Power Users' drive pedagogy

Today, for the second year I began working with an ESL/ELL Instructor and his class to set up student blogs for their semester-long class assignment.

I was amazed walking around the darkened classroom watching them not only cruise through the blog set-up, but multi-tasking by checking email, listening to music and texting with one hand on a cell phone and the other on the keyboard. English may not be natural for them, but they are digital natives.

This article from eSchool News, Study: 'Power Users' drive pedagogy tells how these tech-savvy “power users” are revolutionizing the nature of teaching. No longer do students sit quietly while instructors lecture, they want to be active participants in their learning.

Research suggests tech-savvy students are having an impact in the classroom
“Students who excel in the use of technology are driving change in classroom instruction, according to a new survey of educators. Dubbed "Power Users," these ultra tech-savvy students have a growing influence over what--and how--teachers now teach, the survey said.

"The Certiport survey validated many of our observations that, among digital natives, there is a group of 'Power Users' of ICT," said Joyce Malyn-Smith, director of strategic initiatives for education, employment, and community programs for EDC. "This group [is] in tune with what is needed for success in the 21st century, exhibiting many of the collaborative learning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving interests that are sought by today's employers."


Instructors, or digital immigrants as we are dubbed, can learn from students, the digital natives. Just ask them about any technology they have in their backpack, they are more than welcome to share their knowledge with you.

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