June 2017 STEM Anchor Skills (2-1) - "Digital Literacy is Critical"

This entry inaugurates the second year of my STEM Anchor Skills blog. In this year’s posts, I will offer more suggestions on activities for learning about STEM.

My purpose for this change is to introduce the idea of STEM explorer clubs. Like many American men, I participated in Cub Scouts, Weeblos, and Boy Scouts as a child. I enjoyed meeting with other young men to do crafts, learn outdoors skills, and compete in activities like model car races. I am in the process of organizing STEM Explorers for young men and women interested in applying STEM knowledge acquired at school in real-life activities.

If you are interested in forming a STEM explorer club at your school or home, I encourage you to contact me at jgabriella.played@gmail.com. You may also submit content questions and join my newsletter mailing list there.

Digital Literacy is Critical

In his TED Talk, “Will Automation Take Away Our Jobs?,” Economist David Autor explains how the farm states prepared for the elimination of jobs due to automation in the late 1800s and early 1900s  by requiring teenagers to remain in school until they were sixteen. Removing labor from farms when it was still needed, the High School Movement, was a radical and risky policy. It was also highly successful. 

David Auto "Why Are There So Many Jobs?"

The IoT (internet of things), artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, and a number of rapid technological changes are fomenting another industrial revolution. This time, however, the magnitude and pace are  many fold greater than those of previous changes. While many schools are rapidly introducing STEM programs, these alone are inadequate. To ensure that the next generation are adequately prepared for the increased technical requirements of many careers in addition to completely new careers generated by technology, I believe parents must supplement school programs. Parents can take crucial first step by cultivating children’s digital literacy skills.

As mentioned in previous blogs, I regularly use STEM skills, particularly computer and coding skills, even though I never formally earned a degree in a STEM subject. Report after report verifies my personal experience:  The importance of technology skills is increasing exponentially. In discussing project consulting assignments with potential employers, I have been asked not merely the level of my skills (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) using a software like Excel, but also minutia like my knowledge of pivot tables, dash boards, and Macros. One employer indicated a preference for someone who had acquired Google Analytics IQ (Individual Qualification). Yet another employer recommended that I improve my ability to create PowerPoint visuals to improve the impact of presentations. A few months ago, the director of an American consulting firm inquired whether I could use Tableau. Another indicated he was looking for someone who could use SalesForce. Many of these tools did not exist when I was attending high school or college. Rather, I learned them on my own as a matter of necessity.

My nephew, a member of the those referred to as digital natives because pcs and the internet had already arrived before they were born, are savvy technology users, but this generation do not have high literacy skills. Digital consumers rather than producers, many cannot even read the programs powering the technologies they rely on daily, let alone write programs of their own. If you are as concerned about your children’s or students’ digital literacy as I am about my nephew’s and my own, I encourage you to watch the TED Talk by Dr. Mitch Resnick of MIT linked below. He runs a program called Scratch used to teach children the basic logic and process of programming.

TED Talk: “ Let’s Teach Kids to Code” by Mitch Resnick

After watching the TED talk linked above, respond to the following questions.

1.                Who is Mitch Resnick?

2.                What are the key points of his talk?

     Do you agree or disagree with his view? Why?

Developing Digital Literacy

I suggest the following process for acquiring digital skills:

1.       Master MS Office software and Google applications fully.  Acquire certifications in different softwares like MS Excel and MS Word. Doing so not only sharpens your skills, but also enhances your resume.

2.       Acquire other certifications like Google Analytics IQ, which are totally free.

3.       Try Scratch to develop a feel for what programming–essentially reading and writing computer code—is like

4.       Learn to code in HTML and CSS, used for static web pages.

5.       Learn Java Script, used to make web pages dynamic

6.       Learn the basics of a relatively user-friendly language like Python or R. Python is a multipurpose language while R is used almost exclusively for statistical analysis and graphing. If you are interested in data science, either is suitable. However, if your interest lies in another area like web programming, Python is the better option.

7.       Learn a second language like Java or C#. Most enterprise applications are programmed in Java, used extensively by Google. C# is a Microsoft product likely to continue mushrooming in use since the company has made the software open source.

Application Activity

Based on the preceding suggestions and those from parents, teachers, and STEM professionals in your network, create a plan for increasing your digital literacy over the next year. Use the SMART format to set concrete goals.

S = Specific     M = Measurable           A = Achievable            R = Realistic     T = Time Lined

Author Profile
Dr. Gabriella is an accomplished scholar and businessman. Ivy-league educated, he has served as a lecturer or professor at universities in the U.S., Japan, and China. Currently, he resides in Japan, where he is a senior manager and active consultant. A former high-school math teacher, Joseph is passionate about teaching critical STEM skills to future generations through Play-Ed Consulting.

© 2017  Joseph Gabriella, Ph.D., MBA. All rights reserved.