Monday, February 16, 2009

Re: 21st Century Computer Skills

I like the wilderness instruction course analogy.....the problem is we=
don't teach our courses in "the wilderness". I learned survival techniq=
ues in the swamp with an instructor along to guide me in the Navy.
=20
Norman

________________________________

From: A forum for independent school educators on behalf of Dennis Arms
Sent: Sun 2/15/2009 9:13 PM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: 21st Century Computer Skills

Let me push a bit...don't our students like "computer class?"
K-5 students seem to LOVE going to "computer." We are spending so much=
time asking teachers to integrate, then the teachers get frustrated bec=
ause the students don't have the "basics" and the lesson is thrown out.=
Here is my question, why don't we teach students the "basics" - how=
to blog, how to add/edit a wiki, how to use Word, Excel, Open Office,=
how to use a digital camera, scanner, etc. Then when teachers throw=
a project at them they are prepared. It is like teaching a wilderness=
survival course...you never know what you might encounter but the instr=
uctor tries to prepare you for everything imaginable.
Just some ideas.

>>> Deborah Hazen <dhazen@lansdownefriendsschool.org> 02/15/09 8:09 PM=
>>>
How about the changes on the horizon--I'm thinking voice=20
recognition--- the innovations are coming fast and furious and we=20
need to teach kids how to be strong critical thinkers, creative,=20
ethical.......I fully recognize that any "computer how to" that I=20
teach them right now will be old and quaint by the time they get to=20
college---I do teach them how to create a bibliography--but the=20
formatting using a word processor is so not the point---I'm teaching=20
them to be academically honest-Microsoft Word is just a glorified=20
typewriter that allows them to demonstrate that they know how to cite=20
sources.

On the other hand, I am interested in getting kids exposed to=20
technology so that they can get jazzed about potential outlets for=20
their creativity and possible further study/careers.

One last thought, my husband is in IT--he goes into companies and=20
analyzes their business processes so he can deliver customized IT=20
that will meet their business needs and be useable by their=20
workforce. If he does his job well, anyone can use the technology as=20
an adjunct to their primary role ---they don't have to become=20
techies---the accountants are still accountants, the engineers are=20
still engineers.....Isn't this where technology is going---tech=20
solutions that meet human needs and interface easily? So don't we=20
need to educate future accountants, IT folks, engineers, small=20
business owners, artists, teachers, CSA managers, etc......to be good=20
communicators across disciplines rather than strong users of off the=20
shelf computer packages?

Deb


On Feb 15, 2009, at 1:11 PM, Norman Constantine wrote:

> There are all kinds of cell phones. Kids use them all just fine. It=20
> is not like cars. Cars are analog devices.
>
> Norman
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: A forum for independent school educators on behalf of William=20
> New
> Sent: Sat 2/14/2009 2:14 PM
> To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Re: 21st Century Computer Skills
>
>
>
> On Feb 14, 2009, at 6:59 AM, Greg Kearney wrote:
>
>> teach people to drive only one kind of car
>
> We do just that. The ordinary kind of car that Hertz and Avis rent=
at
> every US airport.
>
> Left-hand steering wheel.
>
> Automatic transmission.
>
> Gas and brake pedals in customary position.
>
> Direction signal stick on left of steering column.
>
> Rear view mirror in center of front window.
>
> That's all you need - twist the key to start and go.
>
> Standard high-school driver education stuff.
>
>
> All of these are different from my car in England.
>
> American kids are lost if they try to drive a manual shift British car
> on the right hand side of the road and navigate round-abouts. And use
> hand signals for turning -- with their right arm.
>
>
> William New
> The Novent Group
> Palo Alto, CA
> 94302-0979
> T: (650) 328-4000
> E: wnew@novent.org
>
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> [ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
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