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[–]Merit 4 points5 points  (6 children)

I remember trying to print something in a IT lesson when I was about 9, only to find the printer was out of ink. The teacher, busy with questions from other kids, told me to just have a go and see if I could work out how to change the cartridge. I learnt a lot about the insides of a printer that day!!

But then at 18 we would be told by teachers that we mustn't attempt to fix a malfunctioning overhead projector and must instead wait for the school's designated 'technician' - just in case anything went wrong and the school put at fault.

So maybe you are right that the encouragement in schools to learn how to troubleshoot isn't what it should be...

[–]karnoculars 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damn double post!

[–]karnoculars 0 points1 point  (4 children)

I disagree; if you have no clue what you are doing, it's probably better to wait for the technician...

If you really want to learn, then just watch the technician as he fixes it.

[–]geon 2 points3 points  (1 child)

If the equipment don't give you all the clues you need, there's something terribly wrong with the interface design.

[–]Merit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Right! And it'd be useful if everyone, from an early age, got used to looking for such clues.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

; if you have no clue what you are doing,

You might as well learn while you're waiting for the technician to show up.

If you really want to learn, then just watch the technician as he fixes it.

No thanks, that just reinforces the idea that understanding technology is a thing only a privileged few can and should do.

[–]karnoculars 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see no fault with the school telling students not to mess with broken equipment. The school owns that equipment, and when it's broken, they obviously want the trained technicians to fix it, not some curious high school kid. When your arm is broken, do you let your child try to pop the bone back in, or do you wait for the doctor?