Why High School computer classes are a waste

When I first started my Computer Applications class in my 12th grade year, I expected to learn something new, but what I really learned was that I shouldn’t have taken the class. When I received my book for the class, I got that “oh, no, I didn’t just start this class” feeling (you know, the feeling of nausea). This was because I looked at the first chapter: “using the mouse.”

I immediately thought of the class as a “waste of time.” When I started doing exercises in the book — typing speed, learning how to use a floppy, creating word documents, etc. All of these redundant tasks got me to thinking: how is this class going to benefit anyone? I mean, here we are learning about 10 year-old software (Windows 98 and Office 2000) running on hardware that’s at least 12 years old (old Dells none-the-less). How is this going to benefit anyone when half the technology is outdated and/or doesn’t work properly; is anyone who decides to be a secretary or computer professional going to be working on 12 year-old systems? I highly doubt it.

Why can’t computer classes be invigorating and creative? Why can’t they challenge you with things that you might actually want to learn about? Why don’t they teach something that can be used in the future? or teach about multiple operating systems, multiple office suites. By teaching things such as hooking up the computer, learning how to install an OS, learning how to install software; these things are beneficial to owning / using a computer and they provide real-world examples.

Not only did I know pretty much everything in the book just by using a computer since I was 7, but I pretty much knew more than the teacher did. When you complete a test only to learn that a couple of your answers (which were the same as what the book gave you) were marked “wrong” because “the teacher disagreed with the book,” you tend to get a little frustrated.

And so comes the end of the year, I am set to graduate next Friday (May 30, 2008), and what have I learned thus far? Don’t takes classes that you already know more than the teacher does about the subject. I’ve kept a 98 average for the class all year long, but I get this feeling that I’ve been cheated or that somehow this class has caused me to not be so enthusiastic about technology. Either way, I am so glad to be exempting this exam — so, I guess this class did end happily; but, I will never look at a basic computer class the same way again.

May 20, 2008 · Filed Under Random