i think that tied in with the snowden stuff and the assumed knowledge that children will grow up with technology = technological competence is interesting.
there has been growing research and debate as to the use of technology in school curriculums and its impacts on cognitive processes. are our brains benefitting from the use of this technology that has been created by some pretty phenomenal brains or are we at risk of actually losing out on the thinking part?
the idea that we are being subsumed by a tightening grip on individual identity and self-governance through the increased use of technology and social interactions on social media and communication across Internet et al is an important one that we must absolutely begin to navel gaze about.
Snowden and its impacts on our uses of such technology is extremely terrifying to me...especially the lack of interest (or is it understanding?!).
This is what i am on about (quoted from the above article): "I want the people who will help shape our society in the future to understand the technology that will help shape out [sic] society in the future. If this is going to happen, then we need to reverse the trend that is seeing digital illiteracy exponentially increase. We need to act together, as parents, as teachers, as policy makers."
I think the main point he is making, that children are not learning to really understand technology through their current use, is very relevant. With the car anology- sure, I don't know how to build a car or understand how all of it works because that's not my speciality. But I do know how to drive one and through that I understand some basics about how it operates and I can apply my knowledge to some thoughtful, independent use of the car (eg. choosing my own mechanic through discussions and understanding what they are doing). When our children are no longer driving cars they will potentially lose some of that independence by being driven to the mechanic who pays for the most advertising. Of course that will happen. Sure, there will be options to choose your own but the majority wont.
We already know that because it's happening in the computer world. Our children's experiences are often being driven by who pays. Teaching them how to drive the experience for themselves will help them to better understand how it all works and have a grasp on the important issues surrounding technology, regarding privacy, access etc etc.
I don't think we are immune to this situation in Australia at all. We have internet censorship which has come close to being violated on many occasions and mostly pushed by politicians who don't seem to have a grasp on the way the internet works. Don't even get me started on Tony Abbott and his views on the NBN.
I don't think he's saying everyone has to have a deep level understanding of computers and be a computer mechanic. But knowing to read a pop-up box before clicking ok or knowing to plug in the cables shouldn't be such a mystery. We shouldn't fear computers and be so mystified by them. Our children should be taught how to drive them, just like we currently teach them to drive a car.
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