Ask Slashdot: What Tech Skills Do HS Students Need To Know Now?

heybiff writes: During summer months I deliver brief tech workshops to high school students as part of an enrichment program. Almost all of the students are average students pulled from non-magnet comprehensive high schools throughout our city. Make no mistake — these are not the students who have a love of technology and coding; many were coerced by excited parents or guidance counselors. After doing this for almost 10 years, I have found students have become considerably more comfortable with technology, and confident in their use, especially with smartphones and tablets being ubiquitous. Unfortunately, I also see a lot of basic knowledge and tech skills all but nonexistent. Moreover, students seem unaware that the tech they use daily even has any usefulness for academic activities. So what I put to you fellow Slashdotters is: What do students today realistically have to know to be successful in school? Which tech skills are still important and necessary, and which are gone the way of the typewriter? What misconceptions or outright lies have become so ingrained in young people's use of technology that they need to be addressed? Finally, the program puts laptops in students' hands, to give them a kickstart in being successful; what skills do they need to get the most out of the new hardware they were just given? Have a question for Slashdot's readers? Take a look at other recent questions first to see if someone else has had a similar question. And if not, ask away! The more details and context you include, the more likely your question will be selected.

Comments

Re:Cursive

[kitty80]

This may be funny, but see also the /. news earlier this day: /./microsoft-to-teachers-using-pens-and-paper-not-fair-to-students

Cursive does teach motor skills in your hands, eye-to-hand coordination etc. And writing is still a basic skill that's needed in every job that requires discussing complex ideas with others.

On OP's question "What do students today realistically have to know to be successful in school?" I would say that the skills I see lacking are reading, writing and basic math. Especially the first one will get you anywhere you want...