Teaching accounting, introduction to business, careers, study skills, and economics which adapt well to projects woven of content and technology. These courses content drives the technology with accounting utilizing calculators, spreadsheets, accounting software, and at times tax research. Projects expose students to the technology of the field which in my area is the content. Student’s technology thinking should focus on selecting the right tool for the job similar to selecting the appropriate outerwear for the conditions. The thinking process associated with selecting the correct tool should be modeled in the classroom. Since I worked for over 25 years in the private industry working in technology I am able to share what was and what is currently going on in the field. However, when I step into the lab for computer instruction my philosophy changes to reflect the uncertainty.
Teaching Internet Communications Technology (ICT) explores computer, software, hardware, Internet, researching, critical thinking skills, and many other resources. I cannot stop with simply teaching students how to use a program; I want them to understand the potential for a variety of other applications. We are preparing students to fill jobs that have yet to evolve and certain to include technology. We need to teach for today, but open our lessons to what is new or possible tomorrow. Our students must compete now and be ready for the challenges of the future.
When teaching in the computer lab it really is about exposing students to new ways of doing and thinking. Teaching students to be critical of information they retrieve from the Internet is vital task but, only the beginning. Our students need to know that using a product like Read Please (and reading bar) can improve comprehension, increasing their knowledge and ultimately improving their grades. Exploring Project Gutenberg, the digital book index, or the audiotext for those who prefer to listen exemplify the options students have available. Are all students aware that books written before 1927 do not have copyrights and many are available in alternative formats for free online? Does it matter if it happens in computer class?
Staff who embrace living with technology need to demonstrate that aspect to students by sharing new tools. When teaching computer skills it should be the technology that drives the instruction. When I was commenting on Filip’s social bookmarking blog I used the old saying, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” which applies to technology in general. We become so comfortable with our way of conforming to tools available we may not seek new or possibility better solution.
Capelle says, “While this willingness to explore technology is admirable, it is also a case of focusing on the tool, and not on what the educator intends to do with it.” I think that educators are correct in taking new technology and applying it to content, after all that's what business and industry do with it.
Diane,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you; when technology is the subject being taught, technology should drive instruction. I wonder, as a verteran ICT teacher, what you will think of this.
I'm sure this varies from school to school, but I think in most school, the goal of ICT is to make students literate in Information Technology. Unfortunately, I suspect many schools fail in this regard. This is not because of bad ICT teachers or even due to antiquated lab equipment (although we both now how annoying that is). The reason schools fail to teach Information Technology Literacy is because information technology is rarely used anywhere but ICT. The absurdity here is that in the workforce, that same technology is primarily used by people who do not specialize in information technology. Unlike schools, information technology is integrated into most careers.
I think the only way to teach Information Technology succesfully is through integration. But then what should the role of ICT be? Should there still be an ICT course? Presumably, the correct answers to these questions will differ for different populations, but I suspect it will go along the lines of traditional literacy. Struggling students will receive remedial support, while everyone else will have yet another measure of their ability to determine their placement in higher or lower level courses. Some students who are especially good with and interested in technology will take advanced course in technology (programming, hardware, graphic/web design, etc.), but there will be no more required high school ICT course. Just as there is no reading class. Students will develop Information Technology Literacy in their regular classes.
Just a prediction. What do you think?
We are here to guide & providing solutions for printers and to guide you with steps how to connect the printers with the other devices.
ReplyDeleteSamsung printer support | Xerox printer support number