As our society continues to become more technology based, for better or worse, it is so important for teachers to continue to learn and implement various forms of technology. Important not only as a classroom tool, but important in understanding how are students are thinking, acting and learning.
I thought the list in the article was very extensive. I am more tech savvy than some of the members of my department, but, as the department chair, I am encouraging everyone of the math teachers to try and experiment with more and more technology. I looked at the list of 20 skills and how well I can do each and how I would like my department to use them.
Here are 20 basic technology skills that all educators should now have:
1. Word Processing Skills
This is the most basic and practical of all the skills. Teachers have been doing this forever. First by hand, then by typewriter and now by computer. We can all learn a little more about the word processing program that we use, but most are pretty good.
2. Spreadsheets Skills
Another basic that less teachers are comfortable with. I worked in the private sector for 8 years before teaching and became proficient at Microsoft Excel and use it in all my classes. Only 1 other teacher in our department tries using spreadsheets at all. Finding the right lesson and applications would make this easier to implement.
3. Database Skills
We have been given an excellent way to showcase our database skills in our district. We have an electronic gradebook that is relatively easy to navigate and look at data.
4. Electronic Presentation Skills
The most popular way to use this skill is Microsoft's Power Point. While not an expert, I use Power Point occasionally to present lessons. Some of the other math teachers use Power Point as a vehicle for student presentations because of simplicity of use.
5. Web Navigation Skills
No one thinks twice about this skill. However the ability to narrow a search or find exactly what you are looking for is a skill that I and all of the department could improve on.
6. Web Site Design Skills
As I learned in EPSY 590NET, there are LOTS of places to get help designing web sites. Teachers, at least the teachers in our department, think that designing web sites is a very difficult and arduous task. But there are many places where designing a web site is as easy as typing, point and clicking. Showing teachers where to go for help in this skill is the first big hurdle in getting them to begin their own sites.
7. E-Mail Management Skills
This is now the single most effective way in communication with parents. Every teacher in our school and department has this skill and for the teachers in our department, this is their preferred method of communication.
8. Digital Cameras
This seem like a recreational skill that some teachers have never considered putting to use in the classroom. I have given my students disposable digital cameras and had them go out and take pictures of shapes (parabolas, spheres, rectangles, etc.) to learn more about geometry or trigonometry. As the price of regular digital cameras comes down, implementing them into curriculum should become easier as more cameras can be provided from the school.
9. Computer Network Knowledge Applicable to your School System
This is a skills that all of our teachers have perfected. Our school provides a network location for each teacher and class and any papers, projects, or power points can be saved at any computer terminal and acccessed from anywhere as long as it is connected to our network.
10. File Management & Windows Explorer Skills
This skill, just like navigating the internet, might be taken for granted. But, after helping some of my colleagues look for missing test files or songs on their computer, I know that this skill need much fine tuning. I have seen teachers who are the most organized people in the world, with the greatest systems in place have no idea, or rhyme or reason when it comes to saving files on their computer.
11. Downloading Software From the Web (Knowledge including eBooks)
Another relatively easy task that many teachers have a difficult time with. Part of the reason that our teachers struggle with this skill is because no individual may put a program on their school computer. This task can only be done by the technology director or computer lab aide.
12.Installing Computer Software onto a Computer System
See #11.
13. WebCT or Blackboard Teaching Skills
Because of the CTER program and other online courses that I've taken, I feel very comfortable with this skill as a student. I have created a moodle for one of my classes and use that frequently, but I have no experience teaching with other type programs. As teachers continue their education, more and more will do it with online classes and will become more familiar with the different course delivery programs.
14. Videoconferencing skills
This is a skill that hasn't caught on much in our district. Whether it is because of the small size, number wise and geography wise, or because of the cost involved, teleconferencing is not utilized. However, as camcorders are becoming easy to use, and videos are becoming easier to send electronically, I can see this a great vehicle for enabling students to catch up on work or lessons missed.
15. Computer-Related Storage Devices (Knowledge: disks, CDs, USB drives, zip disks, DVDs, etc.)
As floppy disks become obsolete, teachers and students use more and more portable storage devices and the importance of backing up and storing data. This is another relatively easy skill to master.
16. Scanner Knowledge
I purchased a scanner for our department last year and find novel ways of using it all the time. I feel the math department uses scanners more than most others in school, whether sending worksheet via email or posting solutions to homework online. This is a frequently overlooked skill and use of technology.
17. Knowledge of PDAs
I have used a Palm Pilot for around 8 years and have found hundreds of different uses, both personally and professionally. I have been trying to implement a program to take attendance using a Palm that would automatically send the results to the office. No more attendance slips or emails from the principal for forgetting to take attendance. However, I think that this is also a dying technology. I feel that tablet pcs and smartphones will become the technology of choice instead of PDAs.
18. Deep Web Knowledge
I got to #18 before I felt I didn't have the skill. To be honest, I didn't know what the "Deep Web" was. But now I do. This is an important skill. To be able to find valid, important information from a trusted site, is important. As we have discussed in the past, any goof with a PC can put info on a web page.
19. Educational Copyright Knowledge
As a teacher, knowing copyright information is critical. Students, not all students, will look for the path of least resistance when doing a project or paper. Teachers understanding copyrights and teaching their students about copyrights will save a lot headaches.
20. Computer Security Knowledge
Students are good computerers. They find ways around firewalls and filtered sites. If they don't know how, they know somebody who does and will tell them. It is important for teachers to communicate with other teachers and the technology coordinator at your school to stay abreast of all issues relating to security.
