Today's world is different for our children–vastly different from the one we grew up in. The technologies we take for granted or simply don't understand have become an integral part of our children's identities. These technologies saturate practically every aspect of their daily lives. This digital bombardment is shaping who they are and who they will become. We must realize they live in a different world and speak a different language.

This book explores the fundamental characteristics of the children in this new digital generation, and how our educational procedures can be modified to enhance their experiences of learning while supporting traditional literacy in tandem with the essential new 21st century fluencies. You will gain a clear picture of the dramatically different way the digital generation thinks, learns, views our world, and interacts as we follow them through this vast digital landscape.

If we ever want to take a part in nurturing those who will be the architects of our future, it's up to us to learn their language and step into their world so that we may truly understand the digital generation.

Reviews

"The authors make a compelling case for the need to transform 20th century classrooms into 21st century learning environments in order to engage digital learners and prepare them to successfully collaborate, create, and compete in the mulitnational workplaces and communities of the new knowledge economy."
Janis Jensen, New Jersey Department of Education

"Ian, Ted, and Lee provide an excellent argument of why schools are not effectively preparing our students for the 21st century global workforce. This shift of the paradigm where students move from consumers of knowledge to creators of their knowledge is paramount to students' future successes."
Dr. Matt McClure, Arkansas 2009 Superintendent of the Year

"UDG explores critical questions that intrigue today's educational leaders: How do I balance the best of the past with the opportunities and realities of the present? How do I balance all that I know with all that we are becoming? And how does all this create the best possible learning environment for our students? A great guide to the future!"
NIkos Theodosakis, Author, The Director in the Classroom

"A highly relevant book that gives specific reasons for educators to shift to meet the needs of digital natives. This book is loaded with vignettes and cases to demonstrate how the kids of today think and learn, with strategies to help educators engage today's tech-savvy students."
Beth Madison, Principal

"Jukes, McCain, and Crockett have laid out an excellent road map for learning in the 21st century. Readers will have clearer understanding of this digital generation and why our classrooms continue to teach analog students in a digital world."
James Cisek, CEO/President 

"This book dramatically documents the need for educators to recognize that 21st-century learners do not learn like their predecessors. The included research and suggested strategies for change provide hope for the future. As a former Ohio school superintendent and staff development director, I believe this is a must-read for those truly interested in educational reform."
Steve Franko, Educational Consultant

"Understanding the Digital Generation is grounded in the recognition that today's students are very different from those in the past, and it outlines new approaches to schooling with technology that should be heard and acted upon now."
Frank Kelly, Senior Partner, SHW Group

"While many assume that 21st-century education merely demands access to hardware and the Internet, our greatest limit is one of pedagogical vision. Jukes, McCain, and Crockett consistently push us to re-imagine the entire premise of learning and collaboration in the future. Best of all, they know how to guide us through a strategic process that ensures our students will remain intellectually agile in a future that extends far beyond the traditional schoolhouse."
Christian Long, Educator and School Planner

"For academic advisors this book is a good resource to provide an understanding and appreciation for the digital generation of students. I recommend this book for academic advisors seeking to better improve their understanding and interactions with students of the digital generation."
Douglas A. Smith, Academic Advisor, College of Education NACADA Journal

Video

Understanding the Digital Generation - Ian Jukes from Fluency21 on Vimeo.