Spiceworks Community Digest: A teaching moment
In IT, we often face challenges that go beyond server configurations and security patches. Specifically, the challenge of teaching people new technology. This week’s “Would You Rather” scenario on the Spiceworks Community focused on this challenge specifically, asking:
Would you rather teach basic computer skills to young children (ages 4-7) or teach warehouse workers how to use a new Warehouse Management System (WMS)?
The poll results revealed an important truth about technology training: it’s not the complexity of the subject, but the resistance of the student that makes the job hard.
The Spiceworks Community verdict: Kids win the classroom
A significant majority of respondents chose the young children over the warehouse workers. This preference speaks volumes about the challenges IT pros face when training adult end-users.
- Gorfmaster1: “Only one will be less combative. Even teachers are first to admit that adults are terrible students. They are set in their ways and easily overwhelmed.”
- spiceuser-JB1: “I’ll take the pupils between the ages of 4-7. I roll my eyes too much when working with adults and computers.”
- J-Nonya: “I’m going with teaching to kids…same mentality, but I don’t have to see them after class ends.”
Devil’s advocate: The upside of training adults
Not everyone in the community agreed that teaching kids was the easier option.
- Der Geist: “I’d go for the warehouse workers over the 4-7 just due to being adults and it being somewhat easier to communicate with.”
- JCham1990: “Teaching children would probably be slightly less painful, but I went with teaching WMS as it’s less likely to also involve cleaning up sick.”
Bottom line: Teach the eager learners
The IT community’s preference for teaching 4-7-year-olds over training adult end-users is that attitude and willingness are the biggest variables in technology adoption and education. Which option would you choose? Let us know on the Spiceworks Community!
