First, a couple of definitions from Wikipedia:

A digital native is a person who has grown up with digital technology such as computers, the Internet, mobile phones and MP3. A digital immigrant is an individual who grew up without digital technology and adopted it later. A digital native might refer to their new “camera”; a digital immigrant might refer to their new “digital camera”.

Digital natives do more than just look at web pages and exchange occasional emails with others. They are participants, creators, and collaborators in an ever-changing digital world, learning and working – together – in ways that we couldn’t envision just a few years ago!

I recently heard a presentation that emphasized the difference. I couldn’t help thinking about what this means for education in real estate.

We’ve long recognized the age and generation gap between REALTORS and first-time buyers. We haven’t focused enough on the significant gap between a majority of real estate instructors and a growing number of young digital natives coming into the real estate business!

For one population – digital immigrants – the tools of Web 2.0 (blogs, wikis, podcasts, YouTube, Facebook, other online networks, etc.) are novelties, sources of curiosity. For a different population – digital natives – these Web 2.0 tools are simply that, familiar tools to be used, even enjoyed, as features of everyday life.

One population will grow larger over time, and the other will ultimately start shrinking.

When we look down the road, shouldn’t we develop courses and programs for BOTH populations? Eventual obsolescence is the only other option!

Of course, we must also do more, much more, to help “newly-immigrated” real estate instructors and students [including yours truly!] adjust to the Web 2.0 world …offering new tools for learning and new tools for business!