IP: This survey of teen attitudes towards technology is super

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

See below url for full text






http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/nstw/teenov.htm


U.S. Teens Are Oriented Toward Technology


The CNN/USA Today/National Science Foundation/Gallup survey suggests that
American teenagers are very interested in and reliant on modern technology,
both in the conduct of their daily lives and in terms of the subject matter
that interests them at school. One might even say from the data that
today's teens have an orientation toward technology.


Teenagers in 1997 have been widely exposed to computers and seem to be
facile with a variety of electronic equipment. Teens also express a great
deal of interest in computers, in math and science curriculum and in
cutting edge technologies. In fact they seem to prefer math and sciences to
the liberal arts (such as English and social studies) at school. At the
same time, students indicate a willingness, perhaps even a desire, to
develop better computer skills than what they feel they are currently
getting at school. Most teens think strong computer skills and an
understanding of technology will be essential tools for their future
success. However, only a third of those surveyed feel their computer
education in is on track to teach them all they need to know by the time
they graduate from high school; the rest feel that their schools should be
teaching them more.


Overall most teenagers feel quite comfortable with modern technology. A
little more than two-thirds indicate they feel confident using computers; a
little under two-thirds say they can usually conquer new electronic
equipment or computer software on their own without asking for help. This
suggests that roughly one-third of American teens might be viewed as
computer deficient, at least in terms of their confidence in their own
abilities.


Exposure to the Internet is less widespread than exposure to computers
generally. Barely half of the teens surveyed (55%) say they have ever used
the Internet and less than one-third (29%) have access to the Internet at
home.


Taking into account the respondents' answers to a variety of questions
about computers and technology, about one-quarter of all teens could be
categorized as "Techno Whizzes," demonstrating heavy use of computers,
heavy use of other types of electronics, high interest in science and
technology, and strong computer skills. But another 46% of students express
moderate to high computer smarts. Altogether about 70% of teens seem
generally oriented toward computers.


Only 19% indicate minimal use and interest in computers; another 10% report
moderate levels of use but low self-confidence with computers.