High-Tech Crybabies Head for the Crib

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  jim@...06/24/08 Report as spam
  1

  The Dumbest Generation

  Germans may have picked up Mark Bauerlein's recent book "The Dumbest Generation" and read the empirical research he presents and concluded the current "tech savvy" generation may know how to navigate their iPod, iPhone and iBook, but when it comes to activating their mental processes they are the "Dumbest Generation." According to Bauerlein, even with all the U.S. tax dollars spent on bringing the world wide web into the classroom, the data overwhelmingly reveal that there has been no marked improvement in intellect or aptitude. Worse yet, the data reveal a deterioration since the introduction of the information highway into our classrooms.

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  jade40806/24/08 Report as spam
  2

  Dumbest Generation, Yeah Righ!

  So when I was in school finding the answer was the challenge. There was no information super highway, and we had to go out there and hit the streets and the library. Now the kids have the info at their finger tips. It is now our job to teach them how to apply the info they are using and how to use it.
  
  Teaching kids about ancient texts, math and science isn't enough. We need to teach them how history impacts current the political climate. How math is used to create new technologies and how biology class solves crime. Once the education and information has context, you'll find the students and teachers will be more engaged and take away more.

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  mosesnbklyn06/24/08 Report as spam
  3

  Engineers, we get no respect I tell ya...

  I hope theres some techies reading this - more fuel for the fire. The last paragraph says it best. Why work so hard at school that you lose your hair for a job that might be sufficient for 5 years when you can go into finance or business where the rewards are plentiful and the education is a joke comparitively? No need to gripe - salaries for classical engineering / construction is throught the roof globally and nationally.
  
  One reason, and part of the problem is that education has become so theoretical and business like that the kids are not getting practical knowledge and context of the theoretical knowledge they have to absorb.
  
  I think this is much more of a social issue - we dont value intelligence anymore, especially with the web. but as our infrastructure crumbles and the water and electricity stop flowing - things will change radically. Unfortunately, with pure capitalism, its going to be brutal.

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  JoshReeve06/24/08 Report as spam
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  Why not teach the kids a few tricks?

  This post rings true to all those that cannot understand other peoples role in an organisation.
  
  Working alongside Engineers in a technology company in Australia, I see the measurable impact 'these types' have on the bottom line.
  
  They do produce intellectual property, but they are greatly rewarded in our organisation, they provide the innovation in our company to create new technology products, and world leading products that other conmpanies only dream of making.
  
  The problem is and has been identified in thia article that the innovators of our companies are not being rewarded for their achievements.
  
  Education is the Key and education will have to take leaps to keep up with technology and the advancement of the human race.
  For instance - programming language taught at schools, web development, more advances in electronics training and all the traditional classes should be held in schools. Basically, ensure that the school curriculum encompasses the flexibility to accellerate our childrens learning in specialist fields.
  
  Musicians do this, sporting teams do this, why not technologists?

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  jeportillo06/25/08 Report as spam
  5

  my 2 cents on why we earn less

  The problem of salary discrepancy between engineers and business-oriented majors lies in the engineers. We got into engineering for the love of it and never for the money. As a result, a job can be personally rewarding even if our paycheck is not.
  
  Therefore, as engineers, we need to learn that our work should be at least as profitable as a business counterpart and, as such, we should demand similar paychecks.

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  m29881406/25/08 Report as spam
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  Financial Rewards & Focus Lacking

  Reasons for the trend away from engineering fields include salaries, which can be very rewarding early in engneering careers, but level off sooner than business counterparts. Another reason is that many engineers are doing less engineering, and more administration. These two factors lead to reduced level satisfaction with experienced engineers. This in turn leads to reduced family heritage carry-over from generation to generation to pursue engineering. Children also may experience reduced interest in engineering fields because thier financially gifted friends have parents who are typically not engineers. Additonally, schools are not staffed with teachers trained in engineering, so curiclum aimed at math and science often lack emphasis on application to engneering fields.