How ‘Digital Natives’ Learn: Qualitative Insights into Modern Learning Styles and Recommendations for Adaptation of Curriculum/Teaching Development

          “Digital Natives” have played a huge role in driving Thailand’s 4.0 policy, seeing as they have grown up in the midst of rapid technological development. For their generation, technology has largly influenced their lives such that they possess ways of thinking, media skills, behavioral patterns, and lifestyles that differ from previous generations. This article aims to explore the changing learning patterns of digital natives, both in terms of learning content and styles. Morover, it also investigates the impact of technological changes on current learning processes and the learning styles of digital learners in Thai society. The study was conducted with 421 Thai digital natives, within the age range of 13–23 years old, who were studying either in secondary schools or universities in Bangkok. Data was collected using questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and free listing techniques, which were later analyzed via content analysis.

          The results of the research revealed that 1) Digital learners prefer learning styles that encourage self-development and derive from content that has practical use in real life. Moreover, learning methods that can enhance the potential of each digital native varied across age range, 2) Learning processes in the digital age have transformed. For example, wireless networks have facilitated access to an infinite repository of knowledge; learning is not confined to the classroom; technology has become a key condition for educational success and efficiency, and 3) Changes in the learning processes in the digital age have created social inequalities and caused a loss of privacy on the part of those being monitored through technology. Therefore, the authors suggest that any stakeholders who are responsible for educational management of today’s children and youth should listen to learners’ opinions in order to jointly review the learning content necessary for Thai digital natives’ self-development and practical use in real life. In so doing, digital natives can make use of their learning and become an important force for driving their families, communities, and Thai society towards the future.

Keywords:  Thai Digital Natives, Urban Areas, Learning Content and Styles, Learning Development, Curriculum and Teaching Development