Can you be more specific on this, Donald? Which tools specifically and needed skills and how do these relate to actual technology use?
In most instances, it gives the student more tools that they can use to learn the needed material as well as learn the needed skills to succeed in there field of study.
Brandon, could you expand on your comment for clarity?
How can students develop self-directed learning skills while still being led and guided by you, the instructor, Howard? What strategies do you use to accomplish this?
To get use to the new technology at first.
in our system that we devloping we will have web base training.the students will have learn how to be self directed so when they get to class they can function correctly.
Brandon, to what are you referring when you say it will be a challenge for students at first...? The use of new technology or the development of new skills?
This is going to be a challenge for all instructors. its is also going to be a challenge for the students at first. if the teamwork is there for the instructor staff and the students are willing i think it will be very good.
Technology has required students to develop the ability to communicate without being face-to-face with another person. It requires them to utilize and develop critical thinking and then apply what they have learned using the technology versus verbal communication.
Good points, Walter. In addition, users of new technology in the learning process are developing skills of self-directed learning, innovation, networking, and application. We still value and reward the task result rather than the process to accomplish.
What types of new skills does the use of new technology develop in students?
There are no special skills that one must possess. However, to understand and use technology one must enhance current skills to interface with technology. The computer is designed to be used without additional tools to operate. The computer designers simplified the design to allow the user to perform task with less time and effort and to reduce task specific mental processing. This indicates that a primary task a computer user must have is the physical ability to sit upright.
I had students that were legally blind, others were amputees from war; they used voice recognizing software to type and navigate. Other students were recovering from surgery; these students could not operate the compute unless they were reclined in bed or able to sit upright. In each case the ability to sit or recline in a upright position was critical.
A person of mental competency can learn to navigate to search web sites, word process, write and receive emails. However, the ability to mentally process text and convert what was reviewed into an action requires the brain to quantitatively analyze and place what was receives in a mental digital format; users then must convert what was received into a physical/mental process. The skills needed are more of a mental ability to accept interfacing with technology. Many people are still afraid of this concept.
To effectively use a tablet PC requires eye hand coordination and the memorization of functions to operate and initiate programs. This action creates a repetitive mental process; while the user is standing, walking or sit in a noisy environment. The ability to lockout ambient noise and concentrate on specifics task is a learn behavior; the user must enhance these skills.
If these skills are not developed the user will not effectively operate computer technology.
Good points, Salena. Technolgy remains the tool; students are users and teachers are the facilitators of that use.
New technologies help students improve their critical thinking and problem solving skills. When students use software they might encounter software glitches where the software does something by itself that the student does not want. For example, I have noticed there are a lot of software glitches in Microsoft Word. Students will need to use Microsoft Word at work and at school and will need to be use their critical thinking and problem solving skills in order to overcome any glitches. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are very helpful in the workplace even when you are not using a computer. Students need to think critically and solve problems when they are working with co-workers, clients or customers.
Yes, Jack, the accountability is raised as is the immediate feedback and progress of students as you say. How would you say this has changed your role and approach as an instructor?
My Students were made more accountable because I could monitor their web course progress and counsel them if there was a problem or give them the kudos for a job well done. It made them relize that the training they were involved in was serious and they need to excel to achieve their goals. They really did learn the content better in this format.
SO what is your solution, Craig? What kind of sites would you work with or create yourself?
I agree with Marvin. I am also am wary about the non technical sites out there that have a lot of discussion but no facts. I spend a lot of time trying to fix what someone on the net broke.
This depends on the type of technology and the proposed outcomes of the learning objectives. Fro example: I teach a course in Microsoft Word. This is an excellent word processing program. I teach all of the basic and advanced skills, however, I include projects that have the students research ideas and topics. They must hen create research papers that have them using their critical thinking along with the functions of the technology.
By combining several tasks into one software program, students get reinforcement on different levels that also work within different classes.
Yes, Jamie, the extension of learning is wonderful using new technology. How has it changed how you teach and how you design your instruction?
Using new technology facilitates the students to "think outside the box". It can also lead the student from a superficial understanding of a subject to a more indepth understanding instead. By providing for the use of new technologies (like the internet) the students can learn much more than that which can be taught through lecture alone.
