Introduction
Definitely, the two articles under consideration gave an extensive overview of what computer science and digital media mean for the contemporary youth. The articles ‘Gender differences in factors influencing students towards computing’ by Roli Varma and ‘Digital media and the generation gap’ by Lynn Schofield Clark are to be compared and briefly summarized within the content they hold. Therefore, it is necessary to determine where the two different articles have points of contact and where they completely disagree.
Gender Differences in Factors Influencing Students towards Computing
Both of these pieces of writings hold information about the influence of media and computers on our lives. However, still both of them have a difference in the aspect of view on this problem. The article ‘Gender differences in factors influencing students towards computing’ focuses on the problem of learning computer science by teenagers of different gender. Namely, how the interest of males and females is developing towards computers. Of course, the important issue touched upon in the article was the reasons for poor interest towards this science: shorts classes, the lack of teaching professionalism and subject materials, etc. Overall, it talks about the gender differences when it comes to using the computer. It is interesting to know that females get involved in computer science much later than the males do; besides, girls do not have that much interest unless they are forced to do it due to job opportunity connected to computer usage. Usually females start learning the computer closely when at high school, whereas boys express much interest towards the electronic device since elementary or middle school. This is one of the most notable gender differences when it comes to computing nowadays: ‘Historically, compared with men, women’s interest to pursue a career in a computer related field has been restricted’ (Varma 2009). Moreover, when reading the article some facts may stun one completely. For example, it is nearly outrageous that poor students are unfamiliar with computer as a modern technology device.
Digital Media and the Generation Gap
The second article ‘Digital media and the generation gap’ by Lynn Schofield Clark also tells about the differences in adopting the digital systems, namely, digital media. Except the focus is the difference of modern technologies’ perception between the age groups, namely, parents and their children. It is very interesting how the author outlines the attitudes of parents and their children, being raised in two different social groups, towards digital media. The article stresses the opinion of parents about digital devices being somewhat nuisance, however, at least informative and useful for the children’s studies. Whereas teenagers, in their turn, express such parents’ assent as a mere unawareness and absence of desire to learn about new technologies and the actual use of computer, text messaging, etc. The case study of this very article shows how the generation gap causes difficulties in digital media usage for both age groups. To be more exact, while the students want personal space in terms of digital media usage their parents worry about personal authority loss: ‘Parents, especially those from lower income families, were concerned with the challenge of maintaining authority about an area (digital media) in which their teens knew more than they did.’ (Clark 2009)
Conclusion
In conclusion it is necessary to say that the generation gap along with the gender gap is a serious problem that may slow down the progress. The two articles have a great deal of facts and case studies that prove this point. Fortunately, they also have hints on overcoming these difficulties.
References
Clark, LS 2009, ‘Digital Media and the Generation Gap’, Information, Communication & Society, 12: 3, 388 — 407.
Varma, R 2009, ‘Gender differences in factors influencing students towards computing’, Computer Science Education, 19: 1, 37 — 49.