How children became experts in technology

Ever since computers really took off, there have been jokes about how we should turn to a younger generation to explain them to us. This has changed in recent years. There are still a number of related comments being thrown out into the public, but most are relics of the past.

Why is it that children used to be the experts? Why is it that children don’t seem to be as advanced anymore? A lot of it has to do with computer classes. In short, we didn’t always rely on the schools to teach us how to use computers.

The reputation that children developed in regards to technology was formed before classes became commonplace. Children were motivated to learn by their interest in the subject rather than an inefficient process that turns learning into a chore. Also, the interest in technology usually developed before the desire to learn had been completely destroyed by the schools. This means that children had an easy time teaching themselves while adults struggled.

Then came the classes. We started teaching children that computers are just as dull as math, English, and social studies. Due to the nature of schooling, we also had to teach them how to use existing computers rather than how to utilize computing concepts that had not yet been implemented. By the time classes were finished, students’ understanding of computers had become outdated.

While children use to have an easy time adjusting to new technology, the schools changed everything. Windows 8 is a good example of the devolution of computer understanding. I haven’t used the OS myself, so I can’t evaluate it. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who legitimately dislike the change. What really bothers me is the bulk of the criticism. A lot of people criticize the OS for being different. I can actually make some sense out of the criticism, but I don’t like the nature of it.

If you spend time and effort to learn older versions of software in school, it’s hard to let go. You don’t want your work to go to waste. This is even worse if you go to college and invest money in classes. If computers are changed too much, people feel like they are throwing away a part of their lives. As a result, the schools are legitimately inhibiting technological progress.

As I have said before, the schools destroy everything that they touch. Nowhere is that more obvious than with technology. We used to have a deeper understanding, and we used to progress at a much faster rate. Now, we have dumbed things down so much that children are no more advanced than schooling-certified mindless drones.