Personal insight into the new digital generation

I believe that many of you have only read on social media about the summer school that children are attending at Shkolla Digjitale. However, for those who did not have the chance to hear about it before, let me tell you about it.

During July and August, Shkolla Digjitale organizes an intensive training for children who become skilled within 4 weeks in computer architecture, networks and internet, internet safety, and multimedia.

I dedicate this writing to the 3 weeks that just passed, where I will try to give an insight into what I have personally experienced working with children.

Day 1 and 2 – Camp in Germi

An experience that makes you jealous that you are no longer a child, it was very difficult for the pre-war generation to have the opportunity to experience at least one day and night in camp. It was a golden opportunity to create better connections with students and to understand more about each one's character. One element that impressed me in group discussions where each of us told something about ourselves was that most showed that they have patience issues and were aware of this.

However, it is amazing to have a focus group of such an early age who are able to conceive a super application about writing. If it were a meeting with adults, I am very convinced that in such a short time you would not be able to hear such a high level of creativity.

Week 1 – Computer architecture

Let me tell you a bit about myself to connect with the topic. I was 8 years old when I had a computer. At that age and time (the year 1994) it was like a toy from the future that created a curiosity and later a passion that accompanied me all my life. Considering that at that time there was no internet yet, children like me had only a few options. The programs that were there, to explore without any purpose, and breaking and fixing was like entering a new mission.

Today, for this technological generation, I was initially very reserved as an instructor about what level to talk to children, since I had expectations that what I and many others of my generation did at that time would now be easy challenges for children.

After a few days of training I can say a few words…

The internet has done its thing, we have children more passionate about it than ever. However, the use of technology as a science in itself is much lower than I would have ever thought. Children have access to information faster than ever before. As for factual knowledge I don't want to dwell, however I can notice a few things.

• Children know how to use their smartphones mainly for browsing, youtube and games. • For most children, computers are devices for browsing, youtube and games. • If these break, it's not their problem…

All this motivated me even more to put these children at least at my level when I was little. What I learned during my years as a child has become a personal mission to teach them and hopefully one day they will be much further than where I am now.

During the first week I taught them about computer parts in detail, their functioning where they also learned how to identify them. A special thanks goes to Prishtina Hackerspace who made it possible for this week to be fantastic by offering us more than 80 computers for use. The students had the opportunity to work in a typical service environment, where they disassembled all the computer parts, and created their own computers from various parts, making many of them functional that were previously out of use.

After all this, they also learned to repair computers and format them when needed.

In my childhood, these were the basic skills for using a computer. In other words, we didn't have the luxury of sending the computer to service every week.

I believe that for every engineer it is essential to first know how to repair their own tools, and I am very proud that today these children were trained in this part.

At the end of this week, the children visited the Vita factory in Istog where they had the opportunity to see sophisticated technological devices that had automated many processes that were previously done by people. It is essential that these children today become aware of the need for technological knowledge which is becoming more and more necessary for our lives.

Week 2 – Computer Networks.

After the children learned about the computer, the second week began with lessons about the internet and computer networks. It was very interesting for them to understand how computer networks work.

Before, for my generation the internet was just something that exists, now for this generation it is very easy to understand what is happening behind the scenes.

In this week we made sure that the children see the network devices, understand the network connection starting from the computer network of Shkolla Digjitale, as well as create their own networks by having the necessary devices at their disposal.

It is a very good feeling when you hear from them how they have managed to format computers at home or how they have adjusted the Wi-Fi device for better performance, or how they have created personal networks. In a way, it seems to me that now every home has its own IT.

It is a very good feeling to receive parents' impressions such as: my child has formatted the computers of my company and for this thing has earned something as a reward for motivation. Or, my children have completely reconstructed the internet network and now the internet performance is better.

At the end of this week, in order for the children to see the practical work of engineers who work with computer networks, we sent the children to the company 3CIS. There the children had the opportunity to see laboratories with the most sophisticated network devices, as well as to understand the work done by young Kosovars in many global companies through the use of the internet.

Week 3 – Internet Safety

When internet security is mentioned, usually the first thought is hackers. Do you know why hacking is so attractive to children? It's the power! The feeling of digital power makes children feel superior to others. It's a bit scary to think how easily these children get infected with various viruses or are exposed to other dangers while searching the internet for different hacking methods.

For my generation, hacking was like a technological game... with the fact that no one at that time was able to tell us that there are also consequences. This game hasn't lost its meaning for children even today!

For Shkolla Digjitale, educating children about internet security is a topic that is missing in schools and family discussions, at least in most if not all. This is a result of the lack of awareness about these dangers for the entire adult generation.

During this week, children had the opportunity to see various attack techniques and learn how to identify them. They learned about attacks and defense, and how to practically clean the computer from viruses and how to secure their devices at home.

The last day of this week was a visit to the Kosovo Police cybercrime sector. The children were amazed by the level of technology this institution possesses and by the way we were received as a school. This visit was also exciting for me, perhaps because as a child such a visit was not only impossible but I wouldn't even have wanted to see the Police building.

So, three fantastic weeks full of emotions and lifelong lessons, for both the children and me! I see a lot of potential in the new generation of children, however, I also see many gaps that I hope schools will improve in the future, since this directly affects society, economy, professionalism, and the level of services in the future.

Now I can't wait for the Multimedia week, creative lessons where children will have the opportunity to express themselves through photos and videos, create their own short films, and become independent in this aspect as well. At the end of this week, we look forward to visiting Klan television, who are waiting to explain in detail how they edit photos, videos, and video montages.

Digital lessons, which will enable our children to be versatile for life and profession!

Darsej Rizaj