in 2005. I took the "Business" sequence of courses which included =
electives such as Document Formatting, Advanced Document Formatting, =
Computer Applications I, and Computer Applications II. All of these =
courses taught us the basic skills such as setting margins, reinforced =
touch typing, and all of that other "stuff." =20
So after I graduated from high school I took a job working in a =
preschool, then as a computer lab aide, then as a Technology Specialist. =
I never had any kind of training but a majority of the skills I learned =
were easily applied to other areas. When I worked as a computer lab aide =
the room was full of Macs which I had never used before. =20
In my opinion the important computer skills include: being able to =
talk TO people, not AT people, being able to search effectively, and being =
willing to try. When I worked as a Technology Specialist I could always =
count on Google to provide some guidance to fix whatever problem I was =
having. =20
Technology courses are an important part of a students career. I =
LOVED my computer courses in high school because they taught me things =
that I could use right away. I can type 80+ words a minute thanks to my =
computer courses, and I can talk anyone through changing columns, creating =
tables, creating formulas, etc.
These "five step computer users" are the people who have never had formal =
training. I see them every day, scribbling down the steps I am giving to =
them..."wait, wait, I need to write that down."
>>> Renee Ramig <rramig@sevenhillsschool.org> 02/14/09 12:06 PM >>>
I have found that having a "computer skills class" does little for my
students because nothing is context. I show them how to do columns and
footers in Word or formulas in Excel. But, the first they use it in
class for a project, they often need to be re-taught as now it is in
context of some curriculum area.
Personally, I believe in the adage "No technology before its time." I
find that teaching a technology tool works best, is retained better, and
can be transferred more easily if it is taught in the context of a
curriculum project.=20
Just my 2-cents.
Renee Ramig
Seven Hills School
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