America’s high-school students are confident they can solve the world’s most complex problems, such as climate change and a dwindling supply of fossil fuels. However, more than half of them believe high schools aren’t giving them the science and technology background to take those problems on, according to survey results from the Lemelson-MIT program.
This year’s Lemelson-MIT Invention Index, a survey that indicates Americans’ attitudes toward invention and innovation, shows most high-school studnets (64 percent) believe they are capable of inventing scientific and technological solutions to global issues.
At the same time, 59 percent of the teenage respondents (13 to 18 years old) don’t think they are being adequately prepared in high school for science and technology careers.
That seems to mesh with yesterday’s Joint Information Systems Committee report that students can “google,” but not do research. The younger generation has a level of comfort with technology, but not necessarily an intimate understanding. The Lemelson-MIT study also indicates, apparently, that students are aware of that shortcoming. —Hurley Goodall
6 Responses to Tech Ignorance Keeps Teens From Changing the World
mkt42 - May 8, 2012 at 5:47 am
I’d read (and been told by a native Pittsburgher) that “you-uns” is pronounced (and spelled?) “yens”.
I’m not sure how distinctive that Louisiana usage of “coulee” is; it looks very similar to the standard definition in say dictionary.com and almost certainly has the same etymology. OTOH, it may be the case that only people from Louisiana and the western US (and western Canada) use the word, which certainly would make it a regional word.
bskornegay - May 8, 2012 at 9:20 am
“Fortunately, next year you’ll be able to access it online.” Not necessarily. The online version is likely to cost at least the “several hundred” the print costs, so someone will be paying. All that to say, “support your local library” whether you’re going into its building or using the online resources it provides.
wall8305 - May 8, 2012 at 10:54 am
To add to your alternatives – I grew up in Ohio and learned “tree lawn” for that grassy strip as mentioned above, but taught for many years in South Dakota where people referred to it as the “boulevard” – a term I had always thought to refer to a specific kind of street (usually a wide one with a grassy strip down its middle).
tabtab - May 8, 2012 at 11:25 am
@mkt42: Sorry, but I think your Pittsburgher must have New England roots to arrive that that pronunciation (“yens” for “you-uns”). Lord knows how it’s spelled, but in my 60-odd years as a native of SE Ohio, and doubtless prior to that, it has always been YOO-uns.
dank48 - May 8, 2012 at 12:59 pm
A milestone indeed. I recall Laurence Urdang’s appreciative comments when the first volume came out, back in the dark ages.
Btw, “gabfrest” is a new one, unless it’s supposed to be “gabfest.” Not to try to coin slang, as if one could, but “grabfest” could describe certain gatherings where the alcohol consumption leads to the inability of people to keep their hands to themselves.
taramckinley - May 9, 2012 at 2:52 pm
I’m from central Illinois and also use “boulevard.” Lived in Kentucky for almost 10 years and have never heard any of the terms attributed to the region. Not really a dictionary entry, but one of the more obvious Louisville-isms I’ve noticed is adding “of” to the end of prepositions (i.e. It’s underneath of the table).