Anonymous #1 17w

Truly a show that brings together generations

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Anonymous #6 17w

Gen Z is bad at using technology?

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Anonymous #4 17w

yes!! and I have no idea why!

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Anonymous #4 16w

The vast majority of GenZ doesn’t know how to use a computer or computer software because you’ve been widely raised on phones and tablets.

-1

Yeah but meanwhile you had to have your me maw write this for you…

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Anonymous #9 16w

what the hell r u on about

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Anonymous #8 16w

Huh? I'm Gen-Z and had a desktop computer since I was 2 or 3 years old you're buggin

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It isn’t wrong. Your anecdotal personal situation is not reflective of the problem that generally affects a larger group.

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Anonymous #3 16w

Then explain why universities are having to schedule workshops on how to operate Microsoft Word, open PDFs, access desktop web browsers, basic computing, and co-enrollment classes with adult/senior living centers on the basics of computer hardware. It’s a very real problem. If you don’t believe me, as your professors.

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Anonymous #8 16w

Admittedly I don’t know what you’ve experienced, but u can tell you that I have to help my parents and grandparents routinely with both their desktop computers and phones. None of my friends have ever expressed any frustration with using their technology. The only thing I don’t know how to do is work with spreadsheets, but that’s pretty specialized

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Anonymous #4 16w

This is not something I am making up. This is a documented and widespread problem. There are literally dozens of research articles published about it in the past 18 months. It isn’t about MY experience just like it isn’t about YOUR experience. It is a trending experience across an entire generation. Spreadsheets aren’t specialized, and that’s part of the issue. Excel is a basic software app that has potential for advanced use. Most college students have no clue how it works.

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Anonymous #4 16w

And most are largely illiterate when it comes to the Adobe and Microsoft software suites—two critical sets of skills that are often the difference between getting hired and whining on TikTok about not being able to find a job. It’s a documented concern that is approaching actual crisis level in the educational and professional spheres.

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Anonymous #8 16w

You can use Microsoft suites, I could run a virtual machine and custom doorbell by age 10. We are not the same.

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Anonymous #10 16w

I’m just kidding…I know how to use Microsoft suites.

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Anonymous #10 16w

I built my own Linux system when I was 10, wrote new router firmware to reduce packet loss by 60% when I was 13, and have received multiple cease and desist letters from Nintendo and LucasArts from rom hacks. You’re right. We’re not the same. But my experience—once again—is only anecdotal. The trending experience across the demographic is extreme tablet/phone literacy with pc software/hardware illiteracy.

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Anonymous #8 16w

Schools are partially to blame for this since. To add to our anecdotal pile, my school had a computer lab when I was in 1st grade filled with desktops. By 2nd grad they had been replaced with a cart full of iPads. To add to the Microsoft and Adobe convo, it’s because schools these days seem to have a grudge against both. They’ve been replaced by the Google family and another OTHER program the school can find.

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Anonymous #10 16w

any*

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Anonymous #10 16w

One is free. The others aren’t.

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Anonymous #8 16w

Which does lead me to a question: If Gen Z is familiar with programs that perform the same tasks, including free programs, then is being familiar with Adobe and Microsoft office really a good measurement for technical literacy? Is this just journalists doing to Gen Z what was done to millennials?

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Anonymous #10 16w

They don’t perform the same tasks. They perform the surface-level applications of those tasks. Sheets does about 15% of what Excel does. Google Docs doesn’t do the same things Word does. It does about 25% of it.

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Anonymous #8 16w

But you get my point right? I literally made a robot that delivers equipment across a factory floor for a company as my senior design project but does that not count because I presented with Slides and not PowerPoint? I didn’t even know Microsoft Outlook existed till after I got my current job.

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Anonymous #10 16w

Your point isn’t really a point. We aren’t talking about Slides and PowerPoint. If you want to ask if it’s your fault that you don’t know how to use Excel, yes. It is your fault.

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Anonymous #10 16w

It is a good measurement, yes. Because it is industry-standard software across dozens of critical industries. Student users have trouble understanding that because they don’t understand how watered down the free alternatives are. You can’t do everything Excel can do when you use Sheets. You are eliminating the majority of its actual usefulness in lieu of a basic information design platform. Same with word.

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Anonymous #10 16w

What you are suggesting is the same premise that would ask if studios should really use high-quality editing software for audio and video because some kid in Cleveland made an entire movie on his iPhone. Sure. He can do that. But it’s extremely limited. I can record a track in my bathroom with a notation device, but I could do much better with an iso booth and Adobe Audition.

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Anonymous #8 16w

But then why complain (that’s just the way it came across to me) about the Adobe and Microsoft classes? It’s not exactly a huge learning curve so those classes sound less like of an emergency to me and more of a GPA booster.

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Anonymous #10 16w

I haven’t said a word about Adobe or Microsoft classes.

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Anonymous #8 16w

I’m referring to this. I know you said workshops but some colleges are starting to offer classes for Adobe and Microsoft. Seems to be a good idea to me.

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Anonymous #10 16w

It’s a reactionary necessity more than a good idea. A “good idea” would be to address this before higher education because—as you said—it isn’t academically rigorous path of study. It’s a basic element of professional computer literacy.

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Anonymous #8 16w

Most good ideas come out of necessity. Anyway, if your idea is to have the same class just earlier in education then I’d say this is resolved.

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Anonymous #10 16w

It shouldn’t be a class. It should be a part of every class.

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Anonymous #8 16w

Ok you have to be trolling now. Not a single school is going to do that.

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Anonymous #10 16w

Allowing and encouraging students to submit work via Google Docs and Sheets is the reason we’re in this situation.

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Anonymous #8 16w

When a school can choose between what’s better for students or something cheaper you better believe they are picking the cheaper option. Doesn’t matter how much you increase that budget. You’ll have to enforce this by law.

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Anonymous #10 16w

Schools don’t choose their budgets.

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Anonymous #8 16w

🤦‍♂️

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Anonymous #10 16w

🤦🏾‍♀️

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Anonymous #8 16w

Im talking about government legislation genius

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Anonymous #10 16w

I know. I’m talking about how schools would absolutely use administrative access accounts for both Microsoft and Adobe if they had the funding. How do I know that? Because plenty of schools already do when they have the tech funding. Teachers at any level do not choose Google Docs because it is “better” in any sense. They only choose it when it is the only available option, is institutionally required, or for integration with Google Classroom, which is another shitty free platform.

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Anonymous #8 16w

And I said they would NOT do that if they had the funding. Teachers don’t choose. Administrators usually do. Teachers care but administrators, at least everyone I’ve had the displeasure of meeting, could not care less.

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Anonymous #10 16w

Also if we want to confuse we should probably move to dms. No way we aren’t annoying everyone else.

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Anonymous #10 16w

And I’m saying you’re wrong, as evidence by the fact that thousands of districts across the country choose paid software access over free software access. That’s rather definitive proof that cost/funding is a more significant barrier than penny-pinching administrators. If your stance were reality, few districts would take that route. They’d almost all be on Google for LMS purposes.

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Anonymous #10 16w

I don’t give a fuck if they’re annoyed. They can silence the notifications.

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Anonymous #8 16w

I give more of a fuck about that than continuing this convo

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Anonymous #10 16w

If I were in your situation, I would too.

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