Young kids can't READ instructions.

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mark james

mark james

IAP Collection, Curator
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Location
Medina, Ohio
So... Last week our school district had a "Snow day" IE. low temps. OK. I run a child care center (185 kids)..

I brought in boat/airplane kits with ...10-15 pieces - mostly balsa wood. So I spent 2 hrs with 8-10 kids (6-11 yr old). ABSOLUTELY NO ABILITY TO BUILD THE KITS INDEPENDENTLY...

OK, I'm sure my parents said: "These kids are different...". And my Grandparents said: "These kids are different...:.

And I will say: "S..T!!! These kids are different!"

Admission: I have watched a lot of U Tube Videos on ..."Pen Turning."

But... These kids COULD NOT read the instructions and figure out the pieces! They did actually say..."If we had a U Tube of this I could do it!" But even with the instructions READ to them they were clueless...

I understand that technology is progressing, and the younger generation will learn differently that we did... but this does not bode well.

If I want to turn a blank and put a kit together; I usually check with the manufacturers instructions (they do differ...). But... If I can't blend the instructions with the U Tube... Not a successful product!

I have faith in our youth... but I wish they showed more of a blend of written instructions (digital or paper) and internet tutorials (which I love).

A frustrated Old Poof Teacher!
 
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I manage a peer review web site used by engineers from all over the world. Many have PhDs, and a lot are on the faculties of some of the greatest universities in the world.

And they don't read instructions either.

Not totally clear whether it's that they CAN'T read instructions, or just that the DON'T. There are times when I suspect that its an ego thing - after all, a dude with at PhD knows everything, right? So why should he read instructions.

On the other hand, they are all engineers, and mostly male. And engineers never read instructions - its more fun to just try to do something and muddle through.

And my wife tells me that men never read instructions either.

So the kids are just following the examples set for them.
 
My wife has a PhD. in Polymer Chemistry...but can't balance her checkbook, spell a grocery list reasonably. But give her an algorithum (now I can't spell :rolleyes:) or develop a new coating for stents and she's happy as a clam!
 
You could take a picture of the instructions and send it to their Iphones and they would probably have an app to build it before you could get the parts out. The largest problem i see today with any project is instilling the "Want To".
 
I had a worker, that was given plans for a job, but he thought they were wrong, and made it his way. There were 100 that he made wrong:at-wits-end:
Unfortunately it's a sign of the times. I'm glad I won't be around for them to ruin/run the countries.
Kryn
 
Yup. The basic scientific/engineering/reading skills is dismal even is design professionals. The seemingly simple task of reading and interpreting a drawing is difficult for a lot of people. That's why we have an engineering/skilled trades shortage.
That being said. Did you ever try and read the instructions to assemble a Cambridge/Churchill pen? Now my failing 65 years old eyes have something to do with it but Sheesh would it be so hard to write them in an itemized, numbered list rather than a run on sentence? That and making one set of instructions serve for 3 different pen types and having the illustrations of the parts not matching what is in the envelopes. Now I know all you "professionals" don't agree but us who don't necessarily spend every free minute in the shop have some issues.
 
I keep saying "Heaven help the day that the power is out and the world is out of batteries". I seems that no one can think for them selves or read instructions any more. How many kids get to college or university and can't read and understand what is written or write a report explaining/detailing what they did to achieve the final product.

Yes, they will be running our Country and you can already see where that is getting us - wait another generation or two.
 
I am an old fart, and hate it when I do NOT have directions or instructions to read. Even if I am sure I know what I am doing, you never know what you can learn on the side of a can or box. Anyhow, my daughter just turned 11 last week. I can tell you that when she was in the 6-10 range, she would not read directions. But in the last year that has changed a lot. Maybe it's because we read together every day. Maybe it's because she sees me reading directions. Maybe it's because she is just growing up. Regardless, my little mini-me has tackled some pretty complicated projects, without me, WITH the directions. YMMV:smile:
 
I would suggest that kids haven't really changed all that much. Yes, technology has. Kids have always been the ones to grab ahold of it first. Old folks have been frustrated with the way kids learn and act since the beginning of time. A lot changes in the 40 or 50 years since they were kids. Now, with technology advances in fast forward, it's hard for anyone to keep up, let alone adults.

Is it the kids that have changed, or is it the way we teach them? Or maybe it's the terribly low expectations that are set before them in school, and often in the home, leading to low performance elsewhere.

Kids are brilliantly smart. If you take a kid and really get to know him/her, you can find ways to get them involved and teach them. But we live in a very general society, where everyone is encouraged to be the same. Kids are unique and learn differently. And quite often, a classroom with a bunch of other kids is not the best place.

Parents and mentors need to make a stand and be involved. The kids are doing what kids do. But set the bar higher, be involved with them, teach them, love them, celebrate individuality, and they will blossom and grow.
 
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