Computer Training in Schools
Teachers are concerned that students are not being taught enough about computers at an early enough age. Some of their reasoning is that there are not many standards or developed programs. Also, that the classes that are taught are only for basic computer literacy.
At the elementary level computer literacy can be taught fairly easily. There will only be a few kids who want to go past that point until closer to Middle or Jr High School. As the article points out, most kids have computers in their homes so computer literacy is not really an issue.
Students in High school today have been exposed to computers all their lives for the most part. They are already proficient. These students could easily be taught programming, repair or administration skills. The question becomes how do you do this and should the schools do this? I believe the answer depends on the school. Some schools would benefit from having students learn these skills. Others still have more basic knowledge skills they need to learn. If schools wanted to make this part of a job training curriculm this could be very beneficial to those kids who would not be going on to college. For those attending college, this would give them a head start. In any case, it should be an elective course and not mandated byt the State. Each school district should have the option to include this or not depending on their financial situation.
The schools that do computer training could use the student talent to reduce some of their cost. They could give students part time jobs or require them to perform certain jobs as part of the curriculm. The school can use students to design, implement and maintain the schools network, computers and web site. This gives the students real world work experience they can use upon graduation whether they attend college or not. It gives the school reduced labor costs while still providing for their computer needs. The knowledge and experience this provides benefits all involved and helps the studetns down the road no matter what field they go into.
As for not learning this before college, that is not really valid. There are many things we do not learn until college. I did not learn how to program or even be on a computer until college. Yes, it put me behind, but it was not an insurmountable. I now can program in multiple languages, design databases, programs, and websites. I can repair most problems with computers. In other words, I am a Geek who didn’t even touch a computer until college.
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Chicago Sun-Times
Teachers: Computer training bytes LOS ANGELES — Even in a nation where most every school has Internet access and computer use often starts by nursery school, teachers of technology see a warning message flashing. For students in elementary and secondary schools, states have few developed standards or required courses in computer science — a field that goes beyond basic literacy to encompass hardware and software design, real-world applications and computers’ effect on society. Such lean coursework means students don’t have the chance to study the science of computers until college, where a declining number are majoring in the subject. States must embrace the idea of training sophisticated computer users at a younger age, teachers say. The sell isn’t easy. Computer science, like other subjects, is fighting for time on student schedules and a place on the political agenda, where reading and math dominate. ‘’Students don’t have to take our classes, it’s only an option,'’ said Jim Lindberg, who teaches computer software applications to high school students in Tacoma, Wash. Mike Brown, an instructional supervisor for Robertson County Schools in Springfield, Tenn., said more high school students should be learning programming or Web site management. Instead, they take basic keyboarding and graduate without much computer savvy, he said. AP |
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The Carnival Of Education: Week 22
It is in the spirit of Casablanca that we are pleased to present the twenty-second edition of The Carnival of Education.As with other editions, those entries that were selected by us appear at the bottom of the page. The aim of the carnival is to pre…
Trackback by The Education Wonks — 7/6/2005 @ 2:17 am
I think it’s not a case of training children to use computers. Children just need to be given computers which have software on them which is relevant to tasks they are going to do. Kids will figure out how to use computers on their own and by watching others, I think of computers like forks and knives, eventually you’d figure out how to use them to eat with and who knows some kid may figure out a way to use computers in a way which is truly unique and will change the way we all work in time
Comment by Training Guy — 8/14/2005 @ 11:35 am