While reading a chapter called "Screen Time" of the book The Dumbest Generation by Mark Bauerlein, I came across an interesting point. In the chapter the author discusses how "The Millennials," or the Generation born between 1980- 2000, are especially gifted with technology. On page 73 Bauerline writes, "Young (technology) users don't just possess good skills- they have 'innate ability.' They don't just tinker online; they 'construct knowledge.'"
While I do agree that “The Millennials” have great depth of knowledge and skill with technology, I do not agree that it is an “innate ability.” I believe that they achieve their knowledge of technology from using it on a daily basis for years of their lives. When I was in elementary school, it was required for students to take computer classes to be familiar with the programs and layouts. These classes continued throughout by high school education. In addition to that, I was using technology on a daily basis for recreation. Thus, why I am so familiar with technology.
Although Bauerline may have been exaggerating when he said that young people have an “innate ability,” I think that he could have found a better way to express their familiarity with technology. Perhaps he could have called their understanding of technology a “second nature” because it is such a major part of their lives now, and it feel almost natural to them.
1 comment:
I'm glad you found a problem with this passage from the book. It shows that you are reading closely but not quite closely enough. I can't find that exact passage, but if you look at page 83 at teh bottom and over onto page 84, you see that Bauerlein is giving all these claims for how great your generation is because of your abilities with digital media. One example of an extreme claim is this one about how it is somehow "innate" to you. Well, you are correct; it's not innate. But neither is he agreeing with the person who said that. It's another example where the writer is responding to views he doesn't agree with, but you have to read really close because he gives a lot of space to these views, and you have to follow his thread of argument.
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