Tech Generation… not? [Jim's Blog]

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====== Tech Generation… not? ======

<wrap lo>Sunday February 3, 2013</wrap>

Much is said about the “tech-savvy” generation. Kids raised with computers, cell phones, high-end video games, etc. But what, exactly, is tech-savvy? To me, that means having at least a working knowledge of the technology that drives the device, not just the ability to use the device. It seems to me that, for the most part, the so-called tech-savvy generation is a generation of tech consumers, not designers or creators.

Mitch Resnick, creator of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scratch_(programming_language)|Scratch]], makes an argument for the need to teach kids technical skills (coding, specifically), starting at a young age. [[http://www.ted.com/talks/mitch_resnick_let_s_teach_kids_to_code.html|In this TED video]], he describes in a very compelling way how technical skills can be applied in many areas of life. Even if a child doesn’t grow up to be a software engineer, for example, these skills will still be useful because of the analytical thinking and other traits they instill.

Instead of raising a generation that knows how to post on Facebook, send text messages, and watch YouTube videos, wouldn’t it be great if we had a generation that could create social media sites, develop messaging apps, and produce compelling streaming content?

> We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.
> 
> Carl Sagan