Generation M’s Surprising Struggle With Tech Literacy

December 23rd, 2006

An interesting piece from the Ecommerce Times:

“‘They’re geeky, but they don’t know what to do with their geekdom,’ said Barbara O’Connor, a Sacramento State communications studies professor involved in a nationwide effort to hone students’ computer-research skills.”

“On a recent nationwide test to measure their technological ‘literacy’ — their ability to use the Internet to complete class assignments — only 49 percent of the test-takers correctly evaluated a set of Web sites for objectivity, authority and timeliness. Only 35 percent could correctly narrow an overly broad Internet search.”

I’m not surprised by this at all. Just because students (or anyone) have gadgets doesn’t mean that they use them to their peak potential. We all need to learn how to use them. A search engine (or any tech tool) is only as smart as the person in front of it.

Or am I way off on this?

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