Dustin Anderson: Digital Literacy

1. "Simply put, we can't keep preparing students for a world that doesn't exist. We can't keep ignoring the formidable cognitive skills they're developing on their own. And above all, we must stop disparaging digital prowess just because some of us over 40 don't happen to possess it. an institutional grudge match with the young can sabotage an entire culture."

This quote states that in some cases, teachers are sabotaging the future of their students by not allowing them to do tech related work or to learn about it on their own. By not allowing students to ‘mess around’ with technology, the teachers could be holding their students back from the opportunity to experience what the future entails. The amount of technology in the workplace is increasing everyday, and like the article states, if teachers do not possess the knowledge to teach their children about technology, they should be taught as well. Some schools try to stay away from technology because they believe students need to be taught the basics before they go out and learn about technology related subjects. If this is the case, I believe technology should be slightly imported into students daily lives; if your not going to teach them technology, at least let them use it, even if it includes using KidPix or any other coloring program.

         Technology is becoming increasingly important, and if it is not taught at a young age, future graduates will be overwhelmed by the amount of it used everyday. Schools nowadays are bent on teaching kids as much as possible before they have to leave that specific school. They cram information into students’ minds that are meant to help them, but instead just make them resent school. For example, one of the kids I babysit, who is in 5^th grade, was taught the digestive system. I did not learn the digestive system until I took biology in high school. Instead of teaching information that they just ‘skim’ through, they should be taught information that they will need throughout their lives, and technology is what they need to know.