Promoting ICT amongst youngsters

- My thoughts and experiences

Ajay PuriAjay Puri

At the age of 9 months my grandfather taught me how to type alphabets on computer. This was just the beginning of my entry into software arena and lead me to where I am today . I very much feel that Grandparents and

parents have lot of influence on children’s future.

How I started in Computers?E

xper

ien

ces

A number of educational CDs with entertainment based learning kept me interested. E.g. Jump Start

I was permitted to play with a number of gadgets by my family irrespective of my tender age (hands on learning). e.g. printers, scanners, computer, video

My elders spent hours with me patiently at what I did, which I feel was not very interesting for them.

How I got interested in Computers?E

xper

ien

ces

Gadgets that Gadgets that I was allowed I was allowed

to use at 2 years of to use at 2 years of age as toysage as toys

I was inspired by the love I gotE

xper

ien

ces

How Other Kids Can be better than Me ???

•Guidance & Encouragement

•Infrastructure

•Hard Work

•Lots of Blessings

Computer should lead school educationT

ho

ug

hts

When I get my school assignment, I search the Internet and am able to When I get my school assignment, I search the Internet and am able to learn much more than what the assignment required?learn much more than what the assignment required?

e.g. One night my father and uncle were discussing about Prophecies of Nostradamus, I got up the next morning and searched the Internet. I was

surprised to find that he has predicted World War III.

I feel, age is not a barrier to learning.I feel, age is not a barrier to learning.

e.g. My father while carrying out his MBA studies asked me to get some information about Dreamworks and Pixar Studio merging. I was happy to

be able to find information that even I understood.

Once I suggested Microsoft to develop some products like MS- Office for Once I suggested Microsoft to develop some products like MS- Office for use by kids. I don’t say that the present Office is beyond kids but I feel use by kids. I don’t say that the present Office is beyond kids but I feel

the product should be so attractive that every kid is interested.the product should be so attractive that every kid is interested.

Media Based Learning

CHILDREN MASTER

COMPUTER SKILLS AT A VERY EARLY STAGE AND

OFTEN BETTER THAN ELDERS !!

WE NEED MEDIA BASED LEARNING AND MUCH LESS CLASS ROOM OR BUILDING BASED

EDUCATION. ICT IS THE ONLY

MEANS TO REACH THIS

GOAL

TODAY CHILDREN SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF HIGH- TECH AS THEIR MOTHER

TONGUE WHERE AS OLDER PEOPLE ARE

“IMMIGRANTS” IN THE LAND OF IT TECHNOLOGY. SO THE ICT TORCH MUST

BE IN THE HANDS OF YOUNGSTERS.

YOUNGSTERS ARE SERVING AS HELPDESK FOR THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF

ICT

I felt sad T

ho

ug

hts

When I visited schools and saw that the computer tools used were When I visited schools and saw that the computer tools used were outdated or slow. I get very impatient when the speed of internet is slow outdated or slow. I get very impatient when the speed of internet is slow

even though I am very lucky.even though I am very lucky.

When I see that some of the parents feel that the electronic equipments When I see that some of the parents feel that the electronic equipments are too expensive to be given to kidsare too expensive to be given to kids

Some of the softwares are very boring and my father tells me it is very Some of the softwares are very boring and my father tells me it is very expensiveexpensive

Some of the students that I was placed Some of the students that I was placed with in India were very talented in other with in India were very talented in other

fields, may be even better than me but did fields, may be even better than me but did not receive the recognition that I was not receive the recognition that I was

lucky to have.lucky to have.

I appeal “Please create opportunities for I appeal “Please create opportunities for them as well, create platforms / them as well, create platforms /

organisations that recognize themorganisations that recognize them

“I have and will always remain committed to the cause of spreading ICT

education . I am a learner myself , but would love to share my knowledge with fellow kids .”

I will always seek your blessings and good wishes to achieve greater heights.

web site http://www.microsoftkid.comEmail : ajay@microsoftkid.com