[svlug] Who and What?

[Scott DuBois]

On Mon, May 25, 2015 at 03:39:53PM -0700, Sarah Newman wrote:
> Yeah, kids these days not knowing about incredibly archaic technologies like DOS. I guess I should have learned how to use punch cards when I was in
> school.

Eh, I don't know that they are "that" archaic. In the mid 90's, I was still
running machines that used punch tape. It kind of all depends on where someone
is and the technology there that is being used. The odds are probably pretty
slim of most people still running into that, but it's still around.

> You might see the GUI as "shiny," but most people probably don't know that anything else exists.

Most? Hmmm? Yeah, probably so. With so much sample on the Internet though...I
would think it hard not to run into "something" that would give a clue. I
believe most people are aware that programs are made from programming langages
and those have to get executed somehow to produce graphics. Even early grade
school kids are aware of programs and computer code.

> Talking about how to get young people more involved in OSS is a great conversation to have. I would not start by discounting their experiences.

It's all up to the individual how far below the surface they want to go. Some
are interested, and some aren't, that's ok. Some might _become_ interested when
what's below the surface is presented to them in an interesting way. If reading
and writing is problematic, then the chances are greater the appreciation of
anything text based on a computer will fall short of their interest.

Develop an interest in reading and writing early, combined with technology, and
one will have a greater opportunity for an individual to be less resilient to
functionality below the GUI.

My son is five. He can't really read or write yet but he loves to play
Minecraft. In the game, he can make signs that say things. He is motivated to
want to learn to read and write because he wants to be able to do this on his
own. He loves to show me the vastness of the world he has created all by
himself; it boosts his self esteem. As he gets older, he may want to build his
own modules or even host his own servers. 

-- 
Scott DuBois        "You can't trust code that...
BSIT/SE	            you did not totally create yourself"
EFF ID: 1731778                              -- Thompson


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