4 chapters across the catalog
Middle management in tech companies reported a surprising lack of basic computer literacy among Gen Z employees, including those with IT degrees. Common issues cited include an inability to use the command line, lack of touch-typing skills, and unfamiliarity with basic troubleshooting like using the Task Manager.
Education Crisis, Chromebooks and the Loss of Textbooks
Teachers are reporting a total absence of physical textbooks in many high schools, with students relying entirely on Chromebooks and digital PDFs. Critics argue that this shift has decimated attention spans, eliminated essential computer skills like typing and file management, and replaced active thinking with "digital babysitting." There is a growing call to return to computer labs and hands-on learning tools like paper and pencils.
A "boots on the ground" report from a college bookstore employee highlights a lack of basic technical literacy among Gen Z students, specifically regarding password resets. The hosts discuss how the shift toward "Sign in with Google" or Apple has removed the need for users to understand underlying account security. They lament the decline of formal computer literacy classes in schools.
Cliff Stoll argues that computers should be removed from schools, asserting that they distract from essential life skills like writing legible prose and understanding logic. He contends that technical skills like coding in Python or using Windows become obsolete quickly, whereas the ability to read Shakespeare or construct a mathematical argument is timeless. Stoll expresses concern that students are losing the ability to use their minds independently of silicon screens.
