Learning from consumerism
We are going to the Apple store because they give free, one-on-one classes. I’m so excited that I don’t have to teach my kids how to add a movie to his blog. The Apple guy is going to do that. And I don’t have to teach my other son to find cool apps on the iPad. The other Apple guy is going to do that. I was never a die-hard Apple user until now. Until Apple made me love that I live in Wisconsin, where it seems that no one else signs up for one-on-one education.
I’ve found that you get what you pay for in terms of learning opportunities presented by others. We took our kids to “Apple Camp” at the Apple Store which was to be about 3 hours of instruction on how to storyboard, shoot, and publish a movie using iApple. The “instructors” were just college students who really didn’t have a clue about how to storyboard, create a shot sequence, direct or act…and weren’t able to talk to the kids on their level. As a result, most of the children created High School Musical slideshows. A director friend of ours gave us the true rundown of how to film and produce, and as a result the kids ended up with an awesome film. After that experience I really have no interest in walking into another Apple store.
The local bowling alley was offering a $70 10-week league with “free instruction” for children. We went to the first event and no one was there to instruct, and the manager indicated that he was in the “process” of setting it up. We ended up leaving.
“Drop off” instruction or activities (like scouts, lego league, soccer) often leave me disappointed with the instruction….which is why we end up leading all of them.
I think your sons will be teaching you stuff on the computer relatively soon (if they aren’t already) regardless of where they learn it. :)