Investigating the ICT Use and Needs of ‘Digital Natives' In Learning English at a Taiwanese University

Literature

An optimistic and promising image of the digital natives has been painted in some existing literature which describes them as innovative users of available technology and eager adopters of new technology from an earlier age. It is further claimed that their digital experiences have changed not only in terms of how they communicate, socialize, and entertain, but also the way they learn (NetDay, 2006; Prensky, 2001a; Rainie, 2006; Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010). Such belief was evinced in a study by Conole et al. (2008) who found students using technologies to support all aspects of their learning processes. It appeared that central to the organization and origination of their learning, the technologies provided them with a rich variety of interaction and communication options in terms of learning which led to their usage of different types of e-learning strategies and e-tools to meet their own learning needs.