Technology Use In Thailand Teaches the Educational Technologist

As I reflect on my recent vacation in Thailand, I can't help but think of some of the scenes I witnessed in which personal computers played an important role. In retrospect, they taught me a great deal about the universality of computing, as well as my own dependence -- or should I say addiction -- to the personal computer. Most important, however, it caused me to wonder about our own level of commitment and leadership to science, technology engineering and math (STEM) education.

First, I must confess that I attempted this trip "cold turkey." For the first time in almost 25 years, I decided to travel without a personal computer. I purposely avoided using the term "laptop," for in the 1980s and 1990s, my travel companion was so large and heavy that it would only be considered a laptop to someone the size of a Cyclops. Be that as it may, I attempted this trip without my trusty laptop, for I thought I could handle two weeks away from the connected world. In summary, I was partially successful. I was able to last about six days without running to an Internet cafe to check my e-mail and read up on some things in greater detail than provided by CNN International.

However, at my visits to the Internet cafe in Bangkok, I observed that kids are kids, whether they are in Thailand or back home. In one of my visits, it was rather quiet until the school day ended and the cafe was overrun by 12-14 year olds, mostly boys, fighting to go online to play the latest games. At a Saturday morning visit, it was difficult to find a free computer as the same age group seemed transfixed at virtually every station. The proprietor informed me that it was like that every Saturday morning.

What was even more fascinating was computer use in Chiang Mai, a city in the mountains more than 400 miles north of Bangkok. This city has a night bazaar in which vendors sell a variety of products including typical handcrafts, clothing, electronics, jewelry, toys. While some of the products are sold in storefronts or buildings, a great many are sold on tables in the streets of the bazaar. Particularly captivating was seeing how children, while their parents and other family members tried to sell the products, sat on the side interacting with the computer.

Similarly, in the various Thai cities and towns I visited, a great deal of commerce took place via street vendors. Yet many of these seemingly "backward" merchants used laptops or had their children or their parents using laptops as they conducted their business.

One final observation was that texting is certainly a worldwide phenomenon. While I did not travel in the hinterland of Thailand, wherever I did travel, young people were texting wherever they went and while doing whatever they were doing.

All of these observations caused me to wonder about American students and whether they are more advanced than students in other countries in their use of technology. After all, if those Thai youngsters are using computers while sitting by the street carts from which their parents were selling their ware, one can only imagine what more economically advantaged youth throughout the world are doing with modern technology. If this isn't a cry for an increased push for STEM education, then I don't know what is.