Opinion: Technology isn't going anywhere so embrace the digital age

Technology is here to stay. Photo/File

"Mum, can we go to coding after school on Tuesdays?"

That was the request from my technologically savvy children, aged 9 and 10.

"Can we? We did it in Australia too and it was fun," the male sprog assured me.

"Do you have a note for me?" I asked, not actually knowing what coding was, assuming it was an after-school programme about problem-solving. It sounded like a great class.

I looked at the note and was blown away but not surprised, because once I actually thought about it, the subject matter was obvious.

The class they wanted to attend was computer and mobile coding - teaching kids advanced coding to create websites and apps, programming technology. This programme is for children in Years 4, 5 and 6.

I looked at the details in awe and remembered back to my days at primary school when the only after-school extra-curricular option I had other than sports was Bible studies class.

I thought more about how often my children used digital terminology and how I'd become that adult who gets "those young kids today" to find the last screen I was looking at on my phone because it somehow disappeared.

There is no escaping technology. I mean, the Minister of Education Chris Hipkins even announced that $8 million was being awarded to an NCEA online programme that allowed schools the option of running NCEA exams online.

He said online exams were increasingly popular in schools, were more efficient to administer and made assessment data more readily available for analysis.

Since 2014, around three-quarters of secondary schools had taken part in NCEA online trials and pilots, rising significantly between 2016 and 2017, Hipkins said.

By the time my children reach exam age, they probably won't even comprehend my days of blue or black pen and paper, much like I feel about the thought of all exams being in front of a computer screen. I get it, though. It makes sense.

Children today are growing up in a digital age so why not embrace technology - because it sure as heck isn't going anywhere.