This study explores the changes in the patterns of narrative experiences among adolescent learners during the digital era and the direction in which it will develop. Additionally, it looks further into how narrative education should respond to these changes.
A deeper understanding of the changing patterns was obtained through literary and qualitative research which included questionnaires and interviews with adolescent learners. Results showed that adolescent learners have increasingly distanced themselves from the traditional novel genre and now turn to normalized digital media entertainment instead. Majority of the subjects were biased towards accepting and distributing narratives and rarely perceived themselves as critics or creative agents. In addition, learners showed a preference for “differentiation” when it came to their entertainment.
The study recommends the active exploration and development of Media Narrative Literacy. Learners should recognize that it is essential to fully enjoy and appreciate the narrative of the digital media age. They should not only be nurtured as acceptance and distribution players but as critical and creative producers as well. Lastly, learners should be able to recognize and reflect on the concept of “differentiation” in the age of digital media.