ConnectZone Blog: Cables, Fiber Optics & connectivity

Kids and Technology (How important are the 3 R’s?)

Children are being exposed to technology at a very early age. When a 9 year old can take a class at the University of Washington and create a video game and website of their own, it begs the question is it time to re-evaluate what is important to teach them in school.

Reading is of course essential, you can’t embrace technical ideas if you can’t read so reading should still be high on the list. Rithmatic (arithmetic)?  Well since computer technology is based on binary number systems, math is going to remain at the top of the list too. But what about Riting (writing)?

This blogger is going to say no not so much-I don’t think writing is very important and here is why:

1. I would venture a guess that 90% of people type and email or text a message rather than write a letter.
2. By the time a 9 year old enters the work force, technology is only going to have advanced and for all we know computers will work on voice command which will make even a typing skill outdated.
3. Most of the people I know only use their hand written signatures for things like birthday cards and signing checks.

Why is it so hard for school systems to evolve? It doesn’t seem to be so much of a problem in the college arena-but I think it is a huge problem for up and coming teen agers. Is it antiquated teaching styles from teachers and district administrators or are parents not using their voices to influence policy?

Is it me or doesn’t it seem more important to teach typing rather than enforcing perfect printing? Instead of cramping children’s hands with repetitive cursive, why not use that time for something like how to protect yourself on line? Health classes teach 7^th graders about protecting yourself from HIV with condoms (which BTW I don’t agree with) but no one is teaching them how to be safe on Myspace! Google streetview is taking pictures of playgrounds and putting children’s identities and locations on the internet and yet no one is telling 6^th graders about the downside of sexting.