Technological Literacy Hampers Fundamentals

I had a group of students take disposable cameras for the purpose of documenting and creating pictures to be used to illustrate a storyline.

Kids are so used to using digital cameras that they assume that using a disposable camera is easier, which is a terrible assumption on their part. Students are very confident in this arena when you give them a task that uses a simpler mechanism than they are currently used to.

Out of the 200 pictures taken, less than 20 were worthy of publication in a story board. The majority of the pictures were poorly taken (too much light, too little light, out of focus, or fingers blocking the lens or flash). In spite of my warnings students insist on snapping away with their cameras and ruining their film on poorly planned out shots.

We're in the digital age and it's amazing what these students know and understand about modern technology, however, it comes at a price. Students are quick studies in how to use the tools at their disposal, but what they lack is the understanding of the how and why things work out the way they do. The side effect of "automatic" settings on cameras are to blame for this.

The whole "set it and forget it" mentality is what keep kids from fully comprehending functionality.

I look forward to coming in on Monday and telling the students, "I told you so." :)