Technology-wise, kids learn faster than adults

Take an eight-year-old without knowledge on computers and an adult equally without computer skills and technology experts will tell you that most kids are more receptive to new knowledge than average adults.

Joeten-Kiyu Public Outreach Program Coordinator Library Roy Rechebei said his lengthy experience working with children in the field of computers and networking has made him reach the conclusion that kids learn faster compared to adults.

Even studies have revealed that later generations are more susceptible to learning about new technologies than today’s adults.

Children learn faster because they are not afraid to experiment with computers and programs, according to Mr. Rechebei.

Adults, however, are reluctant to explore the system all they can for the fear of displacing its orderly set-up.

“I think they take the burden of responsibility very seriously. They are very unsure. They are always careful and afraid not to break anything,” said Mr. Rechebei.

Children, on the other hand, are freer to “play” with the system to their heart’s content.

Although there are chances that children might break something, still they do not hesitate to click with the mouse, open files, and type using the keyboard.

“And this is the key to having some computer experience — being able to experiment,” he said.

Always in search for something fun to do, kids tend to let go of all their inhibitions to get to the websites they want to see.

Mr. Rechebei, who instructs summer Camp Internet students at the public library, further said that children are more determined to “click” to where they want to get using the “mouse.”

“They will click on search and they find all these subjects and for some reason, they know what they are trying to look for. Even if they don’t know the subjects themselves, the website is full of those type of information and they actually take time to read it,” he said.

At the summer camp for kids currently going on at the library, students are being oriented on the basics of Internet browsing and computer maintenance.

Camp Internet also set aside slots for adults who are interested in learning about the subject.

The program currently has 35 kids enrolled for the whole summer.
It started Monday this week all the way to July 14 with sessions in the morning and in the afternoon. (MM)