Calling all computer geeks

[Silver_Shiney]

Even 15-20 years ago, my kids' school expected the pupils to have access to not just a computer, but the internet. It wasn't a problem for my children as, being bit of a nerd, I had decent equipment and was online, but I felt it was grossly unfair to those kids whose parents were simply unable to afford the equipment.

[CaroleF]

I quite agree but the problem is that all homework and such like is often given via the computer and sometimes homework is emailed. Unfortunately there is no option these days for the majority of youngsters to use pen and paper! Even reports these days cannot be handwritten - something I as a retired teacher think unfortunate but that's progress for you.

What does amaze me is that when people apply for a job - often by email - or certainly by using a word processor - is that spelling mistakes are often seen in the letters. Surely if nothing else applicants can use spell check. Gone are the days when I used to ask for handwritten letters of application. That used to tell me quite a lot about the person applying for a job.

Carole

[Silver_Shiney]

I agree, Carole, but in the case of my son, who cannot write to save his life (his handwriting looks like the proverbial drunk, ink-soaked spider), being able to type his homework was a boon.

[david63]

I don't see any difference with knowing how to find out information from the Internet than there was/is from books in the library.

[Silver_Shiney]

I don't see any difference with knowing how to find out information from the Internet than there was/is from books in the library.

It deprives you of the joy of learning how to use printed catalogues and indexes, and satisfies the desires of the "now" generation. Okay, you have to learn how to best use your choice of search engine but there was someting special about reading it on paper.

[Gill W]

I don't see any difference with knowing how to find out information from the Internet than there was/is from books in the library.

It deprives you of the joy of learning how to use printed catalogues and indexes, and satisfies the desires of the "now" generation. Okay, you have to learn how to best use your choice of search engine but there was someting special about reading it on paper.

You can use the internet to find out what documents are held at the local or national archive and then go along and view them. Saves time and a wasted journey if you know that the documents you are interested in are there.

[Quizzical Bob]

I don't see any difference with knowing how to find out information from the Internet than there was/is from books in the library.

Now David this may come as a bit of a shock to you...

Not everything you read on the Internet is true

[david63]

I don't see any difference with knowing how to find out information from the Internet than there was/is from books in the library.

Now David this may come as a bit of a shock to you...

Not everything you read on the Internet is true

I never said it was - which why I used the "knowing how to find".

Also not everything that you read in books/papers is true either - so no difference there

[royalprincess]

Part of joy of learning is finding out where to look.

When I was growing up I had free unrestricted access to all tv news and newspapers. If I didn't understand something my parents told me to go and look it up - where at the library.

Nowadays we just google it (I certainly do now) but as others have said the information is not always accurate and in some places downright wrong.

I do feel for the children whose parents cannot afford these items. There is only just so much money than can go round - children are going to school hungry and their parents who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table are expected to buy computers and tablets for school. There is nothing to stop any child from accessing the wrong sort of information on a computer if they are so minded. Can't schools provide computers for children as part of their budgets? Further if the schools provided computers some monitoring could be achieved.

There is always the temptation for those lazy children having found their information on the internet to cut and paste what they have found and pass it off as their own. This is called cheating in my book but nobody seems to care.