I know what I know

In all the time I have been teaching, I have heard that the younger generation all know and understand computers and technology. Frankly, it is a bit of a cop out. The "younger generation" has two advantages, technology is common and not an extra for them and they have a higher fear/anxiety threshold for technology. An older person or anyone for that matter, can use a computer, the willingness to experiment and try out features is the real generation gap. Some adapt easily to it and others fear change. Another fallacy is that they know everything about technology. This is straight out wrong. We tend to know what we use and that's about it. I drive a car but I can barely tell you how it actually works and I definitely can't fix anything. If you use Facebook or Twitter, then you know something about them. Others, who are curious, will delve deeper to see how it works and what affects a service like the two I mentioned. Below is a rather fantastic video illustrating this by showing a very old computer to kids to see their response. It is both endearing and humorous to watch their reactions.