[punkghetto]

i'm a total newbie at technology and programming. I'm an accountant, but in the last year I've developed a passion for computing and learning to code. I was never exposed to coding or making growing up, everything was a dark hole or a black box that just worked (most of the time). My answer to your question is that if you want to 'reach' or 'help' them your energy will mostly be wasted. You can't install curiosity, motivation, or a lust for knowledge in a person. They have to want it, there is already enough resources to keep anyone's head spinning. (at least there is for me)

[AussieCoder]

I agree, curiosity and passion are something you either have or you don't. As an industry we need to improve our capabilities and continuously demonstrate our value and a subset who are lacking or have outdated skills risks influencing the perception of the value of the whole.

That said, if we can't make people want to be interested we need to find another way to reach them.

Some industries require formal certification and demonstration of ongoing professional development, but IT generally doesn't (although there are pockets which do). Some of the best developers I have worked with have had no formal training, however, just passion, curiosity and a willingness to put in the hours to learn and excluding them would be a mistake. So how do we do it?

[czbond]

I think you're spot on. We like to believe everyone is motivated to achieve - but the truth is that most aren't.