How Do You Google?
OP-ED BY CHARLIE GROSSO
It’s not a question one would expect to hear from a teenager. Today’s teens have been thoroughly immersed in digital technology more than any generation before them.
Imagine, however, a town of teens who never got such opportunities to access technology and build their digital skills; never learned to safely and effectively navigate the internet; never figured out how to spot fake news; never learned the digital platforms to present their ideas or tell their story. What would we expect of the teens in this town? How could we expect them to compete for university spots or jobs compared to their digital literate peers?
Syrian refugees are these adolescents and the Arbat Camp in Iraqui Kurdistan is this town. These teens are facing this exact scenario, lacking the digital skills needed to understand and access the college or career opportunities available to them. They are asking, “How do you Google?”.
The printing press revolutionized how information was spread and distributed to the masses. It created an instant economic and social divide. Those who could read had an undeniable advantage over those who could not. In the 1990s, the Internet revolutionized the spread of and access to information again. This time, those who are digitally literate have the edge.
Digital literacy is a critical component of student success. A 2016 Digital Study Trends Survey by McGraw-Hill confirms that students regularly use digital learning technology and believe that it improves their education, saves time, and boosts their grades. Refugee teens, however, missed out on a critical time in their education. Instead of gaining experience with various digital platforms and learning safe, effective ways to navigate the internet, they were fleeing their homes. And with only 2 percent of international aid going to education relief efforts - with the majority of that aid assisting young and adult learners - refugee youth are at a particular disadvantage.
Refugee teens are left without basic digital literacy, a fundamental 21st century skill that has the potential to open up an entirely new world for them. But, for refugees to access this new world, digital literacy must combine proven solutions in education, entrepreneurship, and creativity.
In his 2016 TED Talk, Adam Grant cited that job performance and commitment can be directly linked to the internet browser they use. Browsers like Firefox and Chrome require a digital know-how to install. Additionally, those who are savvy enough to take the extra steps to download also showed a different mindset than those who went with a preinstalled browser like Internet Explorer. Those who wanted something beyond the default had to ask questions and look for a better option.
It’s not just about one’s ability to Google, but it’s building students’ critical thinking skills to be curious, seek information, and know-how to validate their findings.
When refugees are provided foundational digital skills and the understanding of how to incorporate these skills into their everyday lives, they not only have more confidence in their digital skills, but they feel more positive about their future.
Hello Future’s program combines proven solutions in education, entrepreneurship and creativity. Taught by local instructors and teaching assistants, our students learn by doing. As a result, they report increased confidence in their digital skills and feel more positive about their future.
I’ve been privileged to directly work with refugee teens and see their digital and critical thinking skills. They have a better, broader understanding of the opportunities available to them and are rethinking their futures. Imagine if all relief efforts went beyond fulfilling refugees’ basic needs and worked to build a better future. What would we expect of these teens then?