Towards a Taxonomy of Technate Skills and Experiences

Dr Kurt Seeman asks Can Our Schools Deliver An Education In Technology? My gravest fears are that schools are most unprepared for anything remotely like educating people to be technate.

My fears are based upon sampling the results of the education system through the eyes of three teenagers -- my brother-in-law's teenegers who are 12, 14 and 16 years of age. Out of the three the 12 year old is the most technate -- she spends three hours or so each night on Instant Messenger chatting to friends from school, types assignments (preparing print essentially which is not really a skill of technacy), checks and replies to emails, and draws simple graphics and so on.

Natasha's interest in things technate are not because of school. This interest and aptitude can be traced back to her introduction to technate skills when she was aged three and four years of age. I was in the midst of my research on electronic language when I wanted to show the independence of technacy from literacy. Being a three year old non-reader I introduced Natasha to using a computer and communicating with people online. At three years of age she could do an amazing number of activities -- including being able to predict when the computer would freeze.

The other two are nowhere near the level of technate ability of Natasha even though they are older. Jessica, the 14 year old, has as one of her high school subjects, Computer Studies. Largely this is not about technacy but about low level issues of operating a computer and using some standard programs. What about using all of the major communication tools: email, weblogs, chat, video chat, online searching, preparing and building a website, purchasing online, accessing online ebooks and libraries? Education is ill equipped to introduce and provide experience in these topics.

A taxonomy of skills, activities and cultural experiences is required to display where the school system is lacking as Seeman points out. Look for this taxonomy -- I will begin building my concept of what is required of a technate person -- email me with any suggestions to add to the taxonomy.

7:02:28 AM