Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

What Should 10-Year-Olds Know About IT?

Posted by timothy on from the the-sound-of-eyeballs-popping-out dept.

stephendl writes "I have been asked to give a computer based talk to a local primary school. It is part of an after school science club and I have a pretty free rein to talk about whatever I want for 10 minutes. The children will be aged 9 and 10 and will come from a range of backgrounds, there will be a parent of each child present too. My initial thoughts for the subject included the history of computers, the components in a computer and what computers are used for. Does the slashdot community have any suggestions, experience in this area or tips?"

2 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Source critisism. by noselasd · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There was recently a small study here in Norway about childrens attitude
    to information on the internet. Most of the childes asked, believed that
    what they found on the internet is true, 100% fact, and they had no training in spotting what's not facts or how to check the sources.

    So, teach them to be critic of information, there's so much bogous information out there, anyone can be confused.

  2. don't direct towards only the nerds by xutopia · · Score: 5, Interesting
    the reason why computers give us a good living is because anyone can use it to do plenty of great things.

    I say you show what you can do with a computer. Here are a few ideas:

    1.Schedule a Skype call with a friend you have as far away on the globe as possible. Explain how a computer takes audio information and transfers it over the internet.

    2. View the solar system in 3D (I think there is some open source software that allows you to do that). Explain how a computer can take loads of data and draw it for you.

    3. If the classroom has dictionaries tell everyone to look up a complicated word up and race them with the computer. Explain that the computer's strenght is it's speed not it's intelligence. Tell them that you cannot ask a computer to draw a bird but you can use it do store and manipulate a bird picture.

    4. open up the computer and explain how each module has it's own specialty: graphics card, audio circuit, network circuits, etc... They'll feel like they've done something really cool.

    5. turtle! :) Install Python with the turtle program and challenge them to draw a square with a turtle. Explain to them that a computer is a tool for automation and that is why it is used. Humans still are the ones that have to think to make them automate tasks we ask them to do.

    The computer alone can captivate your audience but the great thing is to make them participate. Make them feel like they changed the world by doing something. Let them give you the obvious answers.