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What is it about kids? We're told they know more about computers than us, yet my 15 year old son knows less than I do, even though I don't get a look in when he's home from school, and my nearly 30 year old son had no interest in mastering the spectrum when he was 15 and yet now knows more than me.
As for the girls, they seem to know more about messaging and graphics than any of us boys do, but ask them a technical question and all of a sudden they squeal they're too blonde to understand and blank up.
It does seem that the least competent player, me, DAD, is the only one to find the answers. So where did this idea that 'ask a 15 year old' emanate?
Grey
I think interests have a lot more to do with this than anything...
In most cases they are all taught some sort of computing techniques in their respective school systems and have been for many many and many more years.Like everything else, some take to it like ducks to water and some don't...
I have found that gamers...those interested in playing games and all are or come to be a bit more knowledgeble than others because they wish to learn the cheat codes and how to script to write the cheat codes. Gender is not an issue in this situation as girls are just as quick a study as the boys are.
On the other hand, texting and file swapping (pictures) are part of the gossip crowd and who is messing with who....they learn to use the graphics editing programs for their ideas to come across sharp and clear and usually tend to become extremely vicious in their attacks on each other.
Others are truely interested in just having their programs work properly and need them for their studies and such and can't wait on someone to get there to fix their programs and issues and all so tend to become a bit more self-sufficient in using the computer!
In reference to 11/05/2008
"So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause."
- George Lucas
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It really depends on the kid (and age).
I teach a fifth grade class. Some of the kids seem to be very interested in computers/technology, while the others don't really care. Right now, we're using our limited time in the lab to learn Photoshop. Many of the girls seem truly interested in making their projects look as nice as possible. I'll admit that I'd have a rough time trying to complete a Photoshop project that could even begin to match the "insane awesomeness" of some of the assignments that these ten- to eleven-year-olds are handing in. They're graphic artists in the making. :)
The boys, on the other hand, seem far more interested in the websites hidden under their multiple instances of minimized IE. Not that I blame 'em; some of the Photoshop tutorials I put them through are pretty dang boring...yawn.
I'm guessing that'll all change when we start the digital video/Premiere unit. It usually does. :)
I'm sure that all thirty of them know far more about all of the "hip" technology--cell phones, mp3 players, GPS, Macs, and even cars--than I do...lol.
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What I've seen with kids over the years is that they VERY QUICKLY learn the Graphical User Interface. That is, young people and kids naturally have much faster hand/eye coodination and young brains absorb visual experiences like a sponge absorbs water (which is why they can be readily influenced by audio-visual techniques). So, if given free access to a computer, a kid will explore all the menus and buttons and remember what all these buttons do. Along comes an adult, who typically just learns what they need to learn to do what they want to do, and they see this "kid" knowing how to do ALL KINDS OF THINGS they didn't know anything about. "Gosh, them kids sure do know alot about them computers!" But, it's really just the built-in buttons and dialogues of the modern Graphical Interface. From my own experience, such "tech savvy kids" really don't know beans about how a computer (or the Internet, or Ethernet, or WiFi, etc.) really works. If there is really something wrong with a computer which can't be fixed through the GUI, these kids are totally lost about what to do. Most of them consider the computer "broken" and should be replaced with a new computer. I mean, once the GUI fails to function as they know it should, it means the computer is just worthless junk, when all it may need is a simple low-level adjustment or repair of some kind.
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My spin on this topic, based on my experience with my own two sons, now 24 & 26 is this.
Why bother learning those things when they have dad. My 24 year old knows how to do what he needs to do and no more.
The older son has now taken to building rigs for friends and doesn't consult me about it. This is new though.
The older boy does level two internal tech support for a large company. However, he never frequents any support sites like this one. Guess he figures it is a waste of his time.
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I'm 14 and I am better than the administrators at my school (i.e. there have been several occasions that I could figure something out that the admins couldn't!) I stink at Graphics and messaging, though, but I am learning my share of programming languages! 2ND PLACE AT STLP (Student Technology Leadership Program) STATE - TROUBLESHOOTING BENCH CHALLENGE!!!
Will
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A lot of that stuff is just a myth but kids are growing up using computers when most adults didn't star using computer until they were already adults.
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I'm 1 of 6 children and the second youngest (20). The computer skills pretty much scale with age with the exception of the second oldest and me, the second oldest has absoulutely no idea about computers at all and rarely uses them.
He actually asked me about a year or so ago "What the hell is the internet for? What does it do?" That question is actually surprisingly difficult to answer: "Ummmmm... EVERYTHING"
I'm on the opposite side of the scale, know alot about them, how they work, how networks work etc. I can fix almost any problem but admittedly I am completely hopeless at programming. But then again I should, I've spent the last 2 years learning about networks, Administration and Maintenance.
Mattwizz3
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I guess it will just have to remain a myth. Something else I've noticed is that blokes just a tad older than me (I'm 58) don't have a computer and if they did, probably wouldn't know how to use one.
I had a ZX81 and moved from there to a Spectrum 48K and then to a 128K. Still got a pile of mags on how to program and 250 games on cassette. Thought I'd be able to keep up with new technology.
But now I find myself slipping behind in ever decreasing circles. What I thought I knew is quickly forgotten and what is forgotten is quickly obsolete.
Now we have mobile phones with seemingly more memory then the average desktop and the possibility that soon these will be able to project 3D images and a host of other things that were just a fantasy when I were a lad.
It's this machine that kids seem to know far more about. To me it's just a phone that's mobile. To all of my kids it's a best friend. They are distraught and wretched if for some reason it goes wrong, or (heaven forbid) runs out of credit! When I was my youngest's age the phone was in a bright red box across the road with a thing you stuck your index finger in and turned round. For those of you who can remember, this cost fourpence.
Ultimately I think the teenagers of today will be surpassed in technology by those just being born. This generation gap becomes increasingly narrower. These are emerging folk who, upon hearing the name Bill Gates, will utter "WHO?"
Many blessing to all who have contributed to this thread and I'm frankly surprised to hear from some so young. I guess I have to say 'Yo!' or something.
pclights
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It's a myth. The thing I've learned about kids is that they're just fearless of consequences. They're more likely to tinker and experiment with a computer. Adults are more apt to ponder consequences of their actions, so are less likely to "tinker", and some adults have a self imposed fear of looking foolish if they mess something up, but it's nothing to do with ability. I can't tell you how many home, and unfortunately business, computers and networks I've had to fix because someone thought their or someone else kid could fix it.
Also, lots of kids think they're smarter than they are because they think knowing a "trick" or feature when someone else doesn't makes them smarter than that person. (And some 1st level "adult" techs who don't think they need degrees or certifications think that, too.) But what they don't have is the experience or ability to comprehend or put together an overall system that best fits an organization's long term business, financial and support needs.
My motto has usually been, "There's 3 things good for the tech business: kids, lighting, and AOL."
Assume that I already did an Internet search.
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