We are now into week 9 of breaking down the problem we have in getting kids involved in studying the right subjects and developing an enthusiasm that will encourage them to keep expanding their minds.
Due to the nature of this subject matter, I think that a short recap of what I have expounded on since earlier is in order:-
We did a very interesting 'experiment' a while back in our attempts to introduce aviation to the community.
By getting on a school bus (that took some achieving, let me tell you…) with a cross-section of ages from both junior and secondary students, we were able to chat to and offer students a chance to get involved with a simple practical kit to assemble and operate. Cue the small glider with instructions in a pack. Encourage them to have a look, have a go - and tell us what they thought. Presented with enthusiasm and smiles. Mmmmm?
Not very promising.
Secondary school kids about 5% response. Cellphone apps and games are embedded, all else is of little value.
Primary school kids were another story. Some wide-eyed interest, happy enthusiasm - and a lot of broken balsa wood. More head scratching.
Ask any Hobby shop owner - piles of cheap kits that hardly sell.
Cue clever Roger from our flying club, who presented the idea of a locally manufactured stiff foam that comes in many colours (like Joseph's Coat kinda thing) that is virtually indestructible. Now we can make a little aviation gadget that can survive Africa at its strongest (not many things fit in that category, believe me). You can drive a car over it and it pops out the other side with a smile.
Meet 'Geronimo', our friendly little aviating okie. (South African slang for 'little person', for those of a foreign persuasion…)
We can print on it, so sponsor's messages can get to the masses.
Then we whack on a clever QR code or two to bring technology into play.
Now it gets interesting.
Having recently spent a week in the bustling metropolis of Ixopo, central KZN, I had my eyes opened for me.
(Yeah, I also had to use Google Maps to find it…)
I was there at the behest of an agency tasked with giving simple training to work-seekers (that means about 40+% of the population, depending on which source of info has been smoking their shoelaces the most)…
Every single resident of this busy little town over the age of about 7 had a smart phone.
Not an old steam-driven Nokia type brick. A sleek black screened smartphone thingy - which they seemed to have endless airtime and data to gaze at.
You may think that some are not so smart, but they are learning basic tech from an early age. They can connect with advertising, contests, podcasts and on-line stuff.
To connect with the masses now requires an understanding of this, as well as how we marry that into trying to expose and encourage kids to be more than their parents.
That's where the QR code comes in. It can lead the enquiring minds DIRECTLY to a proverbial 'rabbit-warren' of great info, projects and fun. A swarm of subjects to enlighten, engage and inspire.
The Youngsters know EXACTLY what it is and how it works.
Compare that with a small selection of posters etc we put up at AERO Week in Middleburg recently as a test.
Result - an astonishing lack of hits (or understanding ..?) of it according to our Google counter of such electronic wizardry.
The age group (that's you) that can afford to/ wants to/ needs to connect with the future generations of aviators and tech whiz kids (that's them) does NOT KNOW how to do this!
Eish…(a cute African word for 'bloody-hell'?).
So now we have TWO sets of populations we need to assist:-
a. Those in charge, of an older persuasion, who have the power to put a plan in place and pay for it.
And
b. Those open-minded youngsters who are not polluted with screen addiction that we can possibly influence.
Set a. can be divided into subsections:
1. Those in charge who have proven to be unable to understand the problem, despite over 30 years of hacking at it.
And
2. Those who have the desire, and the income to make it happen, but don't know how best to help.
Hosting a kids flying day is fantastic, but it's a bit like peeing your pants in a dark suit - it gives you a warm feeling, but nobody notices it.
Where is the follow up to feed interested young minds which has had the Genie awakened?
They need YEARS of mind-feeding, seeding and grooming.
Ain't gonna get that easily baby. Until they found the QR code on Geronimo's rudder.
Until now.
