Perhaps we should define learning as well. In today's age of instant infor=
mation do I really need to know what the OSI model is and what layer I am o=
perating on? I mean really know it, while I can get online and find the mo=
del in fifty different representations very quickly?
In my opinion, teaching students how to learn, i.e. search out, gather, fil=
ter, synthesize and use information is the single biggest skill set we can =
give them. I could not fix my car when the header gasket started leaking a=
nd then eventually cracked the header. I was able to find a book and go on=
line and find the information necessary on how to rebuild the entire engine=
. No, I don't want to "know" how to do something I may never need, but if =
I know where and HOW to find that information I can then decide whether pay=
ing a mechanic $4k to fixe my busted engine or me figuring it out and then =
doing is worth it to me. Options and choices are borne out of knowledge (w=
ith a dash of wisdom).
I have been called a wizard at technology and while it may be true that I h=
ave acquired a tool chest for things like networks and computers etc. Ther=
e is no magic. There is a CAN-DO attitude, perseverance, and the skills to=
find and learn about the answer.
Remove yourself from the subject of tech for just a moment...
How many students do you have cutting and welding steel at your school? Me=
tal working is a trade and skill that has no smoke and mirrors, but does re=
quire putting yourself right next to really hot stuff and wear lots of gear=
, and can be quite scary to the new learner. If you give your students a s=
ense of security and trust AND the firm belief that they have the ability t=
o forge new skills and new abilities, they will explore and become engaged =
in all sorts of new environments IF you give them the choice. Right now, we=
have more girls welding than boys.
We all know that we are teaching our students for jobs that have not yet be=
en invented. Challenges as yet undefined. Problems from issues we cannot =
even fathom.
The single biggest thing you can give them is self-confidence and a tool ch=
est for figuring things out, finding data, and then presenting that informa=
tion to either themselves or other students.
The how and the where of gathering and learning needs to become second natu=
re so that we can collaborate and then focus on the why.
Matt Pearson
Director of Technology, Security and Safety, MCDS
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators [mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.=
EDU] On Behalf Of Brian Lee
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2009 10:08 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Girls avoid "techie stuff"?
Maybe we should define fluency in computers...
Technical:
Troubleshooting technical issues with computers?
Using SSH to create a script using Emac that allows specific function to
perform?
Learning and understanding how firewall rules work in regards to their
network?
Non-technical:
Using Word, Excel, and Powerpoint to create presentations?
Using online tools for homework?
Does your 1-to-1 program involve having girls replace hard drives and
reinstalling Windows? I believe there is a difference between using a tool
and fixing it.
I have not seen any issues with girls embracing computers as a tool to
finish their homework, but I know it is rare to find a girl who actually
likes to fix computers.
How many of you have actually formed a club/class that allows girls to lear=
n
about SSH, TCP/IP, OSI Model, PCI-Express vs. AGP, DDR RAM, partitioning
hard drives, etc? Fluency in using the tool is easy, but fluency in fixing
it is a different matter.
Example:
I know how to drive a car, but do I care enough to learn how to fix it?
Brian Lee
Manlius Pebble Hill School
> From: Fred Bartels <fredbartels@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: A forum for independent school educators <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.E=
DU>
> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:49:24 -0400
> To: <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
> Subject: Re: FW: Girls avoid "techie stuff"?
>
> One of the really beneficial aspects of a 1-to-1 program is that girls
> become just as fluently competent with computers as boys. There are still
> differences in what they do with computers, but both girls and boys have
> fully embraced computers as essential tools for helping to achieve their
> goals.
>
> Fred
>
> --
> Fred Bartels
> Dir. of Info. Tech.
> Rye Country Day School
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution, n=
on-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
