Interacting with a bunch of class 8th students in the "Catch Them Young" programme was entertaining. The whole group of 43 kids was full of energy, enthusiasm and inquisitiveness to learn everything they could in the two weeks camp at Infy.
When asked about what they would love doing whole day during their summer vacations, the responses were amazing. Quite contrary to the expected answers like watching TV, playing cricket or reading story books, what we got to hear was "I love browsing wikipedia" and "I can explore encyclopedia whole day". Awwwwwwwwwee! Yes, awestruck could be right expression on our face. This reminded me of my childhood days when we were growing during the 80's and 90's. Comics like Chacha chowdhary, Champak and Archies was to us, what computers and gadgets are to kids of today.
The first time I was introduced to computers was probably when I was in 7th or 8th standard. We were struggling to learn how to use the mouse that time. And now I have my seven year old nephew who sends me e-mails. The level of exposure and the wide expanse of knowledge that the children have today, I feel we have more to learn from them compared to what we can teach them.
To think of how it would be one or two generations later, I guess the babies will have their orkut and facebook accounts created before they have their birth certificates!!
When asked about what they would love doing whole day during their summer vacations, the responses were amazing. Quite contrary to the expected answers like watching TV, playing cricket or reading story books, what we got to hear was "I love browsing wikipedia" and "I can explore encyclopedia whole day". Awwwwwwwwwee! Yes, awestruck could be right expression on our face. This reminded me of my childhood days when we were growing during the 80's and 90's. Comics like Chacha chowdhary, Champak and Archies was to us, what computers and gadgets are to kids of today.
The first time I was introduced to computers was probably when I was in 7th or 8th standard. We were struggling to learn how to use the mouse that time. And now I have my seven year old nephew who sends me e-mails. The level of exposure and the wide expanse of knowledge that the children have today, I feel we have more to learn from them compared to what we can teach them.
To think of how it would be one or two generations later, I guess the babies will have their orkut and facebook accounts created before they have their birth certificates!!
