Why Hong Kong kids need less time with technology to thrive in the future
Robert Badal says electronic gadgets are proven to be causing digital addiction and amnesia, and destroying youngsters’ attention spans and concentration. This only goes to show the value of learning the old basics of reading, writing and focus
Sounds ominous. But what does “equipping students for the future” really mean?
The knee-jerk response is “technology” – like the classic 1990s Dilbert cartoon of a ponytailed techie spouting internet buzzwords like “e-commerce”, making venture capitalists swoon. Shortly thereafter came the dotcom crash. Also, mention layoffs to anyone in a Hong Kong firm’s IT section and you get a grim reply. IT jobs are being steadily outsourced, not only to India, but now Xian as well.
So what are the skills that employers need for the future? Soft skills, such as reasoning and communication, top the list, not tech skills. And those in-demand skills are changing as a result of what employers are finding deficient in applicants.
According to a Forbes article, number one is attention: “Focus is the new IQ,” says Cal Newport, computer science professor at Georgetown University. But it is becoming increasingly rare. Other skills lacking are critical thinking, problem solving, attention to detail and writing. Lindsey Dole, vice-president at hot start-up Updater, notes that “very few” entry-level candidates can “own and execute on a deliverable from beginning to end”.
Are Hong Kong’s university students ready for the workplace of the future?
Clearly, focus is the key. So, what is contributing to the decline in focus? Ironically, technology.
