The modern workplace no matter the industry requires some computer skills and I think the current technology education system is a failure and is not fully educating people how to use technology properly. Every student should be able to fully understand how to use a computer by the time they graduate high school. These skills are need to be competitive in this high-tech job market and to succeed in the business world. But, these skills won’t help the future generation in the workforce, but will also help them in their home and social lives because it makes people more productive and saves a lot of time if they know what they are doing.

The skills that need to be taught should not only cover how to use software and how to type, but also should teach students basic computer usage and terminology, this should start in Elementary school and continue until the student graduates High School. Simple topics like basic operation, typing and Office software should be taught in Elementary school with some more advanced Office skills carrying over into middle school. Also, Middle school students should be taught how to use more advanced skills like digital photography and other more advanced software. In addition, they need to learn how to troubleshoot a computer because everyone will have computer problems sooner or later. Then, on the High School level, classes will integrate the skills learned in the lower levels and add new skills by doing computerize projects.

This plan will produce students that are capable in technology however, if there are people who already have the needed skills then, they will have the option to test out of the class as to not waste the time of the student or the teachers. They will also be able to take higher levels early and take the requirement out early and get it over with.

If the government would enable thios plan or a similar plan, then the business world would benefit with better qualified employees and would save time and money because new employees would need less training initially and fewer IT people would be needed to maintain the computers. This is a much needed overhaul of the technical education program in the United States and is why we are so much further behind the rest of the world.