I see this gap between children and real computing knowledge. See, many kids will use the computer to play games, go online for fun (more games, instant messaging, watching videos, downloading music, etc.) or sometimes even for study. This is where their involvement or depth tends to end until college or beyond. Now, many, probably most, schools have some sort of computer or class, but they don’t offer much in what I call “computing knowledge”. Most of the time, the school will have some education software used to teach a subjects like phonics or history or math (which is a good thing). They will probably allow the students to perform research on the Internet, and maybe they offer some typing/keyboarding lessons.
There is a lot more to computing. I believe kids (and adults for that matter) should look into that because there is so much you can do with a computer to be more effective, more creative and more knowledgeable world around us all. There are some kids who will even thing maintaining these computers is fun! They need to know, though.
To that end, I am a technology evangelist. I extol the virtues of the technology–particularly computing technology–that can make parts of our lives better. I decipher and translate the “tech-ese” into plain English, so you can pick what you want to use.
Me? I’ve moved around many places in computer-dom. I have worked professionally as a certified network administrator, as a technology writer with articles featured in national computing magazines, and as computer trainer for non-profit programs. I’ve also developed some great technology teaching tools for homeschooling parents along with Michele Glenn, a teacher / administrator of 25-year and nationally certified teacher.
This site in particular is for parenting in this new technical generation. You may not be completely at ease with the computer (yet), or you may be an old-school geek from way back. Either way, I believe you will find something of interest here. Feel free to chime in.
