There’s an app for that

            I once went on a job interview at a regional bindery company and the first thing my interviewer did was take out a ruler. ‘Why don’t you show me an 1/8 and a 1/16 “ he said – I laughed. “You’d be surprised how many people can’t do that,” he said.

Next scenario, I recently went into an office – whose name I wont disclose – to take care of some urgent business. Everything was fine until the neatly dressed well-spoken employee had to figure out 5% of $380, and he couldn’t find his calculator. Ok quick mental math I thought: 10% of 380 is 38, 1/2of that is 19, “19 dollars” said I, “how did you know?” he asked - how did you not know I thought.

This is the underside of technology where we become so advanced that we forget, or simply don’t know how to do the basics. Now don’t misunderstand me, for I too am swept up in the technological toys of today, and I can say I have them all - except the I pad, but when the batteries die, there’s no signal, the desktop freezes, I still rely on that trusty note pad and pen that has yet to fail me.

Interestingly enough with all these technological toys the USA trails a lot of other countries in academics especially Math and Sciences – a point that president Obama mentioned in his “State of the Union” speech. Many Educational Institutions are now restructuring their curriculums in order to better challenge students reasoning and thinking abilities ... who knows - maybe there’s an app for that.