Digital natives, digital immigrants, and total engagement: bridging the gap

Abstract

The goal of every organization is to take advantage of the innovations that come with the technology change to ensure maximum performance. Therefore, hiring personnel who are well-informed and equipped with 21st-century skills is vital. However, total engagement remains a dilemma in most organizations. Studies have been done on promoting total engagement. Nevertheless, not much has been covered on bridging the gap between the technology-oriented employees—digital natives, and the pre-technology supervisors—digital immigrants. This paper discusses ways to help bring the digital natives and the digital immigrants to an understanding toward ensuring maximum engagement for effectiveness and efficiency in learning institutions. A systematic review was employed, and the analysis and synthesis of the literature indicated the need for considering the digital natives’ characteristics as crucial to total engagement in the 21st-century workforce toward effective teaching and learning because it is their needs that determine the needs of the prevalent digital culture.