On the Trails

I am sitting in the Buffalo Airport waiting for my “ride” back to the Outer Banks in NC and I got to thinking about my discussion today about what kids need to know.  I was in a meeting with HS teachers and technology integrators and we were talking about office skills and what the HS teachers expected kids to be able to do when they take their computer applications courses. 

These teachers were disappointed that kids did not know some “basics” like how to set margins and create presentations that only use three colors.  We do teach this to kids from K – 8, but kids do not have enough practice time to master what they have learned.  Which led me to say, that in order for kids to get really good at word processing, spreadsheets and presentation skills, that kids would need to use the computer apps. more than a few times a year. 

We can’t get serious about office skills until we are in a 1:1 scenario.  One of the HS teachers said that we need to make sure that kids do not become to reliant on technology, “we need to make sure that kids know how to think and not rely on Google.”  And I say that thinking has changed. What kids “need” to know has changed because technology has changed the world in so many ways. 

So, I want to make a list of world changes within a stones throw from where I am (at the Buffalo airport) that have changed the world and that someone must have thought would be bad for us

1. Within 50 feet from where I sit, is an airplane that I am able to take from Buffalo to the Outer Banks in North Carolina to continue my vacation
1. Air Travel has made the world smaller
1. Should we change transportation?
2. Within 10 feet of me, 3 people are communicating on their cell phones
1. 10 years ago nobody would have communicated with another person outside of the airport except on a pay phone
2. 20 feet away are pay phones and no one is using them
1. Should we only talk to people that are next to us?
3. Within 10 feet of me, there are 5 people working on laptop computers (all PCs except me!)
1. Portable workstations indeed!
1. Should we limit working to only in the office?
4. I am traveling on Southwest and I printed out my own ticket – I did not have to check-in to get my ticket
1. Less wait time – more time to think
1. Should we go back to standing in lines wishing we were not
5. Within 15 feet of me, there are two people bopping to music on their iPods (yes, ipods)
1. Your music where ever you are
1. Should we go back to listening to airport music?
6. Within 30 feet of me are 4 television sets displaying news and sports highlights
1. What is funny, is that no one is watching them – background noise
1. Should we go back to getting our news 3 times a day?
7. Within 15 feet of me is a “golf cart” which transports people who can’t walk to their gate
1. Helping those who need it!
1. Should we keep those who have trouble walking home?
8. Within 20 feet are two restaurants serving hot food (crappy food) but it is hot!
1. Would anyone want to go back to hunting their own chickens to make Buffalo Wings?
1. Should we spend more time hunting and gathering than anything else?  We could do better with our nutritional choices!
9. Within 2 feet of me are people wearing shoes
1. actually everyone is wearing shoes –
1. Should we go back to bare feet?

What is better, knowing how to format a professional memo or knowing where to look to learn how to format a professional memo? I will teach MY own children where to look.  It is our responsibility to teach kids how and where to find knowledge – not expect them to learn it from us and remember it. That used to be the way we taught because there was not a different way. 

There are too many good things to learn, so keep looking!

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