students working on assignments on their own, which really gives me a =
glimpse into what they are and aren't capable of doing on a computer. =
I've been surprised to see students who can run a blog, a wiki, etc. =
without problem really struggle with the basics of writing a paper with =
a word processor. Many have trouble figuring out how to set text in two =
columns, save as different types of documents, or even changing the =
width of margins. The difficulties of Excel are even greater.
Many teachers assume that when they give an assignment in Word or Excel, =
the kids just know how to use them. This isn't always the case. Seems =
to me that keeping some of these basic skills - that may on first glance =
appear too basic to worry about - really will be helpful to many of our =
students.
__________________________________________
Emily S. Auerswald
Upper School Librarian
Indian Creek School
1130 Anne Chambers Way
Crownsville, MD 21032
eauerswald@indiancreekschool.com
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators on behalf of Keith E =
Gatling
Sent: Fri 2/13/2009 1:09 PM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: 21st Century Computer Skills
=20
As I consider what I should be teaching in the coming years, I've been
wondering, with all the neat stuff people have been doing with podcasts,
wikis, blogs, and other forms of interactive media, is there really any
point in my continuing to teach such nuts and bolts stuff as word =
processing
and spreadsheet use? I keep hearing about how the 7th grader of today =
won't
be using any of these "old fashioned" tools by the time they're in =
college,
and so I wonder if continuing to teach them now is just a waste of
everyone's time.
--=20
keg
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Keith E Gatling - Computer Instructor
Manlius Pebble Hill School
5300 Jamesville Rd
DeWitt, NY 13214
315.446.2452
http://www.gatling.us/keith
Some teachers teach subjects. Others teach students.
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* *
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