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the kids in elementary schools were born into the digital age. they're digital natives from the get, and are probably more comfortable using digital tools than

the kids in elementary schools were born into the digital age. they're digital natives from the get, and are probably more comfortable using digital tools than we are

EvilPaticus 6y ago
That seems pretty short-sighted. Sure my 1st grader knows his way around an iPad enough to play games and watch Netflix, that doesn't mean he's going to understand installing new software or what it means when Zoom isn't working and they have to switch to Hangouts. Yeah, he'll come ask me and I'll figure it out quickly, but I've interacted with enough other parents to know that being able to do so isn't commonplace. Heck even the teachers get confused just setting that stuff up.
- gridlockd 6y ago
  They'll figure it out. People always complain about having to learn something new, but they will learn if they have to.
- telesilla 6y ago
  I'm with you. The 4 yr old I am around most knows the computer password and how to jump ads in YouTube and find the videos she wants. It's their native world.
soylentcola 6y ago
They also expect everything to "just work" with a nice interface and preferably without any pesky settings or menus to mess with. I mainly deal with grad students and some of the things I need to walk faculty and students through (anything beyond clicking/tapping an icon in Windows or MacOS) can be a bit shocking. It's not all of them, and it may not even be most of them...but it's enough that I spend a decent amount of time handling it. Of course that's part of why I get paid so I'm not really complaining--more just surprised at times.
scottlamb 6y ago
I think this belief in "digital native" supremacy is magical thinking: * Most kindergarteners are illiterate and innumerate. That alone severely limits their ability to quickly navigate an unfamiliar, complex UI, much less the extensive number of relevant abstract concepts and references they've yet to learn about. * I've never bought into the "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" mentality, especially when simultaneously discarding the value of transferable experience. My senior-citizen parents know how to use iPads just fine, thank you. My dad started programming in the punch card days and has at least used computers almost every day since; don't you think there's some relevance to more modern computers?

the kids in elementary schools were born into the digital age. they're digital natives from the get, and are probably more comfortable using digital tools than we are

EvilPaticus 6y ago

That seems pretty short-sighted. Sure my 1st grader knows his way around an iPad enough to play games and watch Netflix, that doesn't mean he's going to understand installing new software or what it means when Zoom isn't working and they have to switch to Hangouts. Yeah, he'll come ask me and I'll figure it out quickly, but I've interacted with enough other parents to know that being able to do so isn't commonplace. Heck even the teachers get confused just setting that stuff up.

gridlockd 6y ago
They'll figure it out. People always complain about having to learn something new, but they will learn if they have to.
telesilla 6y ago
I'm with you. The 4 yr old I am around most knows the computer password and how to jump ads in YouTube and find the videos she wants. It's their native world.

soylentcola 6y ago

They also expect everything to "just work" with a nice interface and preferably without any pesky settings or menus to mess with. I mainly deal with grad students and some of the things I need to walk faculty and students through (anything beyond clicking/tapping an icon in Windows or MacOS) can be a bit shocking. It's not all of them, and it may not even be most of them...but it's enough that I spend a decent amount of time handling it. Of course that's part of why I get paid so I'm not really complaining--more just surprised at times.

scottlamb 6y ago

I think this belief in "digital native" supremacy is magical thinking: * Most kindergarteners are illiterate and innumerate. That alone severely limits their ability to quickly navigate an unfamiliar, complex UI, much less the extensive number of relevant abstract concepts and references they've yet to learn about. * I've never bought into the "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" mentality, especially when simultaneously discarding the value of transferable experience. My senior-citizen parents know how to use iPads just fine, thank you. My dad started programming in the punch card days and has at least used computers almost every day since; don't you think there's some relevance to more modern computers?