I have mentioned the skills shortage many times and there are all sorts of initiatives either in progress or stalled. Let us now leave this subject and look on the other side of this issue.
There is a fantastic opportunity right before us.
The new generation is endowed with the ability to understand and use the latest technology. A colleague of mine has just told me that his youngster at two years old could effectively use a computer mouse. It is an age-old joke that parents need their children to program their VCR. Now we have PVRs, I am sure that many of us do not even know what that is.
When young, you possibly took mechanical things apart or built radio receivers. This would have satisfied your inquisitive nature - the world has now moved on.
Today's youngsters have an ability to sort through clutter and find the best way to achieve their objective. This is a distinct way of thinking that enables them to see things differently. They are inquisitive about the latest advances, for example, if you need a new cellphone, ask a teenager for the latest specifications.
Their 'What if' mentality needs to be channelled into investigating the physical world around them. Once they are hooked on the wonders around them, they will likely become interested in the measurement and comparison of these interesting features. Eureka! We have the beginnings of an instrumentation engineer.
My contention is that we must start as early as possible. One point of entry would be with the Physical Science teachers at our high schools. They have to be encouraged to achieve the best they can with their pupils. We need to apply our collective analysis as to how we can locate the best teachers in this field, and suitably reward them for their efforts.
Vivian MacFadyen
If you have any bright ideas, please let me know at [email protected]
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