K-5 students seem to LOVE going to "computer." We are spending so much =
time asking teachers to integrate, then the teachers get frustrated =
because 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 instructor 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
>
> [ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
> Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, =20
> attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
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>
>
>
> [ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
> Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, =20
> attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
> RSS Feed, http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?RSS&L=3DISED-L
>
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution, =
non-commercial, share-alike license.
RSS Feed, http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?RSS&L=3DISED-L
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
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