#computer literacy program

[gayvampyr]

im glad we’re finally talking about lack of technology literacy in younger people. everyone assumes we’ll automatically be good at it and have all the know-how because we grew up with it, and sure i might be more knowledgeable about it than say, someone 15 years older, but technology is changing and becoming more “turnkey” and a lot of the customization and workarounds just are not that accessible or obvious anymore. several tech companies boast that their new products are so simple and easy that a baby could do it, and users no longer have to figure out or understand anything behind the scenes because look, there’s a button right there you can press for this issue and if you’re still having problems you can just take it to a technician.

and im not saying this is inherently bad, it’s more accessible to people who don’t know anything about technology, but we are losing our computer skills because we don’t understand the tech and don’t see a need to. you buy a phone or a laptop and it’s perfectly usable fresh out the box and you don’t have to do anything to customize it because they’ve done it for you, which sucks especially considering they often don’t even want you to mess with the programming or software. customization is discouraged so they give you a handful of options they picked out and that’s that, and if your computer goes kaput then instead of learning how to fix it you can just throw it away and buy a new one! and while turnkey tech is a good option for a lot of people, we should still be encouraging know-how and teaching tech literacy in school as we become even more dependent on it. so many young people are struggling to work on computers and no one thinks to teach them because of the generation they’re in. it’s a major issue.

[liminalweirdo]

what do you think are the most important things to utilize if someone wanted to learn to amplify their tech-literacy/tech-using experience?

We all know about add-block and anti-tracker add-ons, I'm thinking things like using github for various things, downloading youtube vids using yt-dlp. etc. etc. Bonus points if you can drop guides/how-tos

Other examples are things you can do with word, like adding macros, etc.

Also, what are your favourite non-game programs and apps? This could be anything.

i'm hoping to get a list where lots of folks can add on so if you could reblog that would be awesome

[lesbianstarlightglimmer]

Tbh the strangest and most concerning thing about kids that I’ve observed get steadily worse is how these kids just…don’t know how to use a computer???

Like if you put a 12-15 year old kid and my 50 something year old mom next to each other and asked them to copy and paste using a computer, both would look at me like a deer in headlights!!

And yes I know some of this is because schools just don’t really have computer classes anymore (like I had ones that taught “proper” typing, Microsoft office programs like Word and PowerPoint, etc.) but like??? Every school I’ve been to so far has had computers for students so they’re all on devices all the time yet still don’t know how to use them.

Hell, they barely know how to type a URL in! Like! Huh! I’m genuinely concerned about them not knowing how to use a computer properly and how they use it so freely without proper thought and care as to what they put out into the world.

[publicuniversalenemy]

i am tryng so hard to be good and make my little media library on one of them open-source softwares like jellyfin or VLC but unforchunately im really stupid with computers despite my best efforts and its making me grumby :(

[draconicsplendor]

Why do some university students two years younger than me not know how to use Microsoft Office? I knew that schools don't teach computer skills as much as they used to, but like... this is worrying.

[vamptastic]

honestly maybe it's bc i'm from a small town in florida where we didn't have a lot of covid cases until spring break hit, and also florida just... never really enforced a lockdown but every time i see a post talking about the Youth Of Today were all extremely damaged by lockdowns its like??? i think maybe ppl just haven't been around a lot of kids but working at summer camp before and after lockdowns the kids (5-13) seem fine & their behavior is the same. i was a freshman in high school when covid hit and certainly some people had a rough time mental health wise and i had friends i didn't see for years bc they were immunocompromised and had to switch to florida virtual bc schools here just stopped offering online school. like, it sucked, it still sucks, it was definitely a disruption. I'm just really not seeing any visible kind of developmental or behavioral issues in young children, anecdotally. Especially not to the extreme level suggested in some posts

[aidenwaites]

Anyway the children need to learn how to mod minecraft. It's good for them

[richardtheteacher]

Leveraging Coding Games to Enhance Classroom Learning: A Teacher's Guide

Richard James Rogers, Award-Winning Author and Educator, describes ways in which teachers can leverage coding games to enhance classroom learning.

A blog post by Richard James Rogers (Award-Winning Author of The Quick Guide to Classroom Management and The Power of Praise: Empowering Students Through Positive Feedback). This blog post has been beautifully illustrated by Pop Sutthiya Lertyongphati. With the growing educational environment today, a teacher is always in pursuit of a new way to make student learning more interactive and…

[ranger-danger]

I love looking at nexus mods even though I know Jack shit about modding.

[babylapin]

Just an add on that I heard about from a coworker with Teens, but they barely even teach TYPING on a keyboard in school. They barely touch Microsoft Office. Everything is touch screen now so kids are put in front of a computer with a keyboard and it's like watching an old person peck-type, cuz it's assumed kids already know how to do all the computer stuff cuz they were born into it. But they don't even know how to effectively use a search function like Google, they don't know how to search for or access their files, and no one is teaching them except youtube, and youtubers can't tell them they're using everything wrong.

not to sound like a boomer, but I need some people to learn how to write emails in a semi-professional (at the very least) format so you're not cold emailing a business/potential employer/any other stranger about formal matters in the exact same way you'd DM a close friend on instagram

the formality/language can loosen up in the email chain once you've established a rapport and you match the other person if they're being less formal, but please don't have the very first email you send a stranger be written in all lowercase ultra-casual sms slang with no greeting or signature and a billion emojis

[sewgeekmama]

Hatching a Plan with Reading Eggs

I don’t usually do reviews for computer programs, games or apps, because I can barely find time to get on the computer and take care of my blog stuff, much less learn a new program and use it enough to actually review it. If my 3-year-old son sees me on the computer, he either complains until I get off or crawls in my lap and just wants to bang on the keyboard. I was very honest with…

[robertreich]

Combine this with Trump’s attacks on higher education — his gutting the funding of the National Institutes of Health (which provides a large portion of biomedical research) and the National Science Foundation (engineering and computer research) and his effective closure of USAID (which underwrites research in global diseases). Put this together with Trump’s attacks on the freedom of speech of university students and professors. And with Trump’s (and RFK Jr.’s) attacks on vaccine science. With Trump’s and right-wing governors’ attacks on teaching the truth in our schools about America’s history of slavery and Native American genocide. Combine this with Trump’s attack on America’s libraries — last week’s executive order mandating cuts in the funding of libraries around the country — which will jeopardize literacy development and reading programs, reliable internet access for those without it at home, and homework help and other resources for students and educators. And his attacks on America’s museums (the same executive order cut their funding, too). And his attack on the arts, as illustrated by Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center (last month, he announced himself its new chair, replaced 13 board members, and inserted a new interim president). What’s the larger picture? Not an “attack on the liberal state,” as I keep reading. Not “the culmination of Trump’s culture wars.” Certainly not that Trump is seeking “small government” over “big government” or advancing traditional conservatism over traditional liberalism. What’s really occurring is an attack on the American mind.

[owl-noire]

Free Educational Resources for Teachers and Students

With Trump's talk of eliminating the US Department of Education, I want to compile a list of free and accessible materials for students, educators, and continuous learners.

Project Gutenburg has a library of over 70,000 free eBooks and audiobooks, with particular emphasis on those in the Public Domain.

The California Department of Education has compiled a list of Free Educational Resources that were originally meant for distance learning during Covid. I think these are primarily for grades K-12.

Library Finder is a free website that can point you in the direction of your closest local library. Libraries are an amazing resource for literacy programs, community outreach, computer access, and much more.

The University of San Diego has compiled a list of Top 24 Educational Resources for Teachers. Most of these are free, free with ads, or free with an account.

National Geographic has a list of Education Resources on their website. I highly encourage everyone to explore the website on their own time.

PBS has a bunch of different educational resources on their website that you can browse easily by subject and grade level.

Please add more resources if you come across them. This is by no means a comprehensive list.

Education is a right, not a privilege.

[fixyourwritinghabits]

Oh boy, I'm seeing a wide range of pessimistic responses to the last reblog about computer skill gaps in younger people, and I need to take a big step back and yell

WE'RE NOT DOOMED EVERYONE CALM THE FUCK DOWN

Ahem. First, the reason why the lack of computer literacy skills seems so abrupt is because the pandemic prevented catching it in the classroom as it was happening. Second, educators are well aware of this gap and are taking steps to fix it. Many colleges have or are working on introductory computer skill classes. Public libraries often have tech help programs, and there are many, many free walkthroughs and tutorials freely available online. A boring, two minute YouTube video on how to save a Word Doc can head off hours of frustration!

If you're worried about younger people in your life, check in and see where they're at when it comes to using a computer. See if your local school system is working on addressing this. Often students don't know what skills they're missing - checking in with folks can help guide them to heading off huge problems down the road.

This is an unexpected problem, but it's not unfixable - there's no need to throw up your hands when you can help direct folks to better resources instead.

[dreamdolldeveloper]

back to basics

mostly free resources to help you learn the basics that i've gathered for myself so far that i think are cool

everyday

gcfglobal - about the internet, online safety and for kids, life skills like applying for jobs, career planning, resume writing, online learning, today's skills like 3d printing, photoshop, smartphone basics, microsoft office apps, and mac friendly. they have core skills like reading, math, science, language learning - some topics are sparse so hopefully they keep adding things on. great site to start off on learning.

handsonbanking - learn about finances. after highschool, credit, banking, investing, money management, debt, goal setting, loans, cars, small businesses, military, insurance, retirement, etc.

bbc - learning for all ages. primary to adult. arts, history, science, math, reading, english, french, all the way to functional and vocational skills for adults as well, great site!

education.ket - workplace essential skills

general education

mathsgenie - GCSE revision, grade 1-9, math stages 1-14, provides more resources! completely free.

khan academy - pre-k to college, life skills, test prep (sats, mcat, etc), get ready courses, AP, partner courses like NASA, etc. so much more!

aleks - k-12 + higher ed learning program. adapts to each student.

biology4kids - learn biology

cosmos4kids - learn astronomy basics

chem4kids - learn chemistry

physics4kids - learn physics

numbernut - math basics (arithmetic, fractions and decimals, roots and exponents, prealgebra)

education.ket - primary to adult. includes highschool equivalent test prep, the core skills. they have a free resource library and they sell workbooks. they have one on work-life essentials (high demand career sectors + soft skills)

youtube channels

the organic chemistry tutor

khanacademy

crashcourse

tabletclassmath

2minmaths

kevinmathscience

professor leonard

greenemath

mathantics

3blue1brown

literacy

readworks - reading comprehension, build background knowledge, grow your vocabulary, strengthen strategic reading

chompchomp - grammar knowledge

tutors

not the "free resource" part of this post but sometimes we forget we can be tutored especially as an adult. just because we don't have formal education does not mean we can't get 1:1 teaching! please do you research and don't be afraid to try out different tutors. and remember you're not dumb just because someone's teaching style doesn't match up with your learning style.

cambridge coaching - medical school, mba and business, law school, graduate, college academics, high school and college process, middle school and high school admissions

preply - language tutoring. affordable!

revolutionprep - math, science, english, history, computer science (ap, html/css, java, python c++), foreign languages (german, korean, french, italian, spanish, japanese, chinese, esl)

varsity tutors - k-5 subjects, ap, test prep, languages, math, science & engineering, coding, homeschool, college essays, essay editing, etc

chegg - biology, business, engineering/computer science, math, homework help, textbook support, rent and buying books

learn to be - k-12 subjects

for languages

lingq - app. created by steve kaufmann, a polygot (fluent in 20+ languages) an amazing language learning platform that compiles content in 20+ languages like podcasts, graded readers, story times, vlogs, radio, books, the feature to put in your own books! immersion, comprehensible input.

flexiclasses - option to study abroad, resources to learn, mandarin, cantonese, japanese, vietnamese, korean, italian, russian, taiwanese hokkien, shanghainese.

fluentin3months - bootcamp, consultation available, languages: spanish, french, korean, german, chinese, japanese, russian, italian.

fluenz - spanish immersion both online and in person - intensive.

pimsleur - not tutoring** online learning using apps and their method. up to 50 languages, free trial available.

incase time has passed since i last posted this, check on the original post (not the reblogs) to see if i updated link or added new resources. i think i want to add laguage resources at some point too but until then, happy learning!!

[artsekey]

I'd been seeing videos on Tiktok and Youtube about how younger Gen Z & Gen Alpha were demonstrating low computer literacy & below benchmark reading & writing skills, but-- like with many things on the internet-- I assumed most of what I read and watched was exaggerated. Hell, even if things were as bad as people were saying, it would be at least ~5 years before I started seeing the problem in higher education.

I was very wrong.

Of the many applications I've read this application season, only %6 percent demonstrated would I would consider a college-level mastery of language & grammar. The students writing these applications have been enrolled in university for at least two years, and have taken all fundamental courses. This means they've had classes dedicated to reading, writing, and literature analysis, and yet!

There are sentences I have to read over and over again to discern intent. Circular arguments that offer no actual substance. Errors in spelling and capitalization that spellcheck should've flagged.

At a glance, it's easy to trace this issue back to two things:

The state of education in the United States is abhorrent. Instructors are not paid enough, so schools-- particularly public schools-- take whatever instructors they can find.

COVID. The two year long gap in education, especially in high school, left many students struggling to keep up.

But I think there's a third culprit-- something I mentioned earlier in this post. A lack of computer literacy.

This subject has been covered extensively by multiple news outlets like the Washington Post and Raconteur, but as someone seeing it firsthand I wanted to add my voice to the rising chorus of concerned educators begging you to pay attention.

As the interface we use to engage with technology becomes more user friendly, the knowledge we need to access our files, photos, programs, & data becomes less and less important. Why do I need to know about directories if I can search my files in Windows (are you searching in Windows? Are you sure? Do you know what that bar you're typing into is part of? Where it's looking)? Maybe you don't have any files on your computer at all-- maybe they're on the cloud through OneDrive, or backed up through Google. Some of you reading this may know exactly where and how your files are stored. Many of you probably don't, and that's okay. For most people, being able to access a file in as short a time as possible is what they prioritize.

The problem is, when you as a consumer are only using a tool, you are intrinsically limited by the functions that tool is advertised to have. Worse yet, when the tool fails or is insufficient for what you need, you have no way of working outside of that tool. You'll need to consult an expert, which is usually expensive.

When you as a consumer understand a tool, your options are limitless. You can break it apart and put it back together in just the way you like, or you can identify what parts of the tool you need and search for more accessible or affordable options that focus more on your specific use-case.

The problem-- and to be clear, I do not blame Gen Z & Gen Alpha for what I'm about to outline-- is that this user-friendly interface has fostered a culture that no longer troubleshoots. If something on the computer doesn't work well, it's the computer's fault. It's UI should be more intuitive, and it it's not operating as expected, it's broken. What I'm seeing more and more of is that if something's broken, students stop there. They believe there's nothing they can do. They don't actively seek out solutions, they don't take to Google, they don't hop on Reddit to ask around; they just... stop. The gap in knowledge between where they stand and where they need to be to begin troubleshooting seems to wide and inaccessible (because the fundamental structure of files/directories is unknown to many) that they don't begin.

This isn't demonstrative of a lack of critical thinking, but without the drive to troubleshoot the number of opportunities to develop those critical thinking skills are greatly diminished. How do you communicate an issue to someone online? How do look for specific information? How do you determine whether that information is specifically helpful to you? If it isn't, what part of it is? This process fosters so many skills that I believe are at least partially linked to the ability to read and write effectively, and for so many of my students it feels like a complete non-starter.

We need basic computer classes back in schools. We need typing classes, we need digital media classes, we need classes that talk about computers outside of learning to code. Students need every opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and the ability to self-reflect & self correct, and in an age of misinformation & portable technology, it's more important now than ever.