Students in the age of Technology

CEBU, Philippines — A little over a decade ago,

it was predicted that anyone who would not know how to use a computer by 2015 was to be considered technically illiterate. Computers were already quite widespread at the time, and yet it was hard to figure out for computers, in all its forms and functions, to radically change the human lifestyle. The prediction came to pass.

It’s 2018 now, and many, many things have changed – all because of the computer. The computer technology has brought about great progress in almost all fields of human endeavor. And people who don’t have computer skills necessarily lag behind. 

The breadth of the uses of computer technology boggles the mind. Things that would be considered magical or miraculous in the past are now ordinary occurrences. And life is made a lot easier and more convenient.

The many technologies that leap out from the basic computer make it hard to imagine how life today would be without them. Most home appliances today run on microchips, which are actually mini-computers. The widely popular cellular phones are another example.

Given how widespread technology is nowadays, it is a challenge for everyone to be abreast with every technological development. There is need for learning technological skills, especially among students. The technology of the future is likely to be much more sophisticated; it’s a big disadvantage if one doesn’t have the skills to complement.

The great thing about technological skills, though, is that learning begets learning. As one figures out how one part works, it gets easier and easier to delve into other parts and figure out how things work. It doesn’t take very long for one to have a good grasp of the whole.

Then, technology becomes much less intimidating to the one who understands it. Technology is way less frustrating to those who understand how it works. Some basic technological knowledge helps make virtually everything a bit more sensible.

It is indeed so frustrating for someone with a smartphone that does something unexpected and he has no idea how to fix it. It’s the same when one couldn’t figure out how to make his computer do something that seems so simple. With enough understanding, one may be able to fix a lot of common technological troubles by himself.

Thinking forward, technological skills will help one get a job. Companies are now reliant on technology in one way or another. No matter what one’s academic course is, he or she will have to deal with technology at work. Someone with some technological skills have much better prospects for employment.

With technology quickly and constantly changing, employers everywhere are looking for technology-savvy job candidates for non-technology related positions. This means that administrative, creative, sales, marketing and other non-IT job seekers are better to have relatively strong technological backgrounds and skills in order to stay competitive. Today’s students shall understand this and prepare themselves accordingly.

The future is no longer a time to look forward to – the future has begun, now. And it is called technology.