So, many things we do involve technology. Knowing how to navigate it is an important thing.
In middle school, we are helping kids to do simple things like email and saving a document to the cloud. These are some of the first steps. Sure they can remember a 24-digit hacker code for a video game, but can not remember the password for their email or to open a document through the cloud so it doesn't get lost. Therefore, helping them understand and want to explore problem-solving is the task at hand in our district. Things like research basics for credible sources, and how and when to restart your computer for critical updates. They give up so easily. They will say it isn't working. They have no idea how to problem solve for whatever is wrong. Twenty years ago, I feel we looked at our notes, asked other students, and tried with trial and error to figure things out. Today, they just say it isn't working. So, the internet can be great for finding solutions, but many of our students have lost the ability to know how to use it effectively, like going back and learning from previous work or cross references. So, we are working on the basics in order to help prepare them to find solutions to bigger problems such as world hunger. Without the basics, they will be unable to do the bigger things.
In middle school, we are helping kids to do simple things like email and saving a document to the cloud. These are some of the first steps. Sure they can remember a 24-digit hacker code for a video game, but can not remember the password for their email or to open a document through the cloud so it doesn't get lost. Therefore, helping them understand and want to explore problem-solving is the task at hand in our district. Things like research basics for credible sources, and how and when to restart your computer for critical updates. They give up so easily. They will say it isn't working. They have no idea how to problem solve for whatever is wrong. Twenty years ago, I feel we looked at our notes, asked other students, and tried with trial and error to figure things out. Today, they just say it isn't working. So, the internet can be great for finding solutions, but many of our students have lost the ability to know how to use it effectively, like going back and learning from previous work or cross references. So, we are working on the basics in order to help prepare them to find solutions to bigger problems such as world hunger. Without the basics, they will be unable to do the bigger things.