20 Basic skills EVERY educator should have for the 21st century (6 through 10)
During the last 15 years, we in education have moved at light speed in the area of educational technology. Whether you are involved in higher ed, secondary ed, elementary ed, or special ed, all of us find it difficult to catch up, keep up, and put up with fast-moving computer-based technology. Not since the introduction of the blackboard have we seen a piece of equipment make such a difference in how we teach. Today, not only do we use computers, but we also have laptops, wireless laptops, and tablet PCs. In addition, we have the World Wide Web, scanners, CD burners, USB drives, digital cameras and digital video cameras, PDAs, as well as video and DVD players. And most educators use a variety of tools-including video, e-mail, desktop conferencing, online programs such as WebCT and Blackboard, as well as video conferencing-to teach. Thus, it is no longer acceptable for educators to be technology illiterate.
With that in mind, here is a comprehensive listing of the technology skills that every educator should have. Because as computer and associated technologies continue to change and evolve, educators must continue to strive for excellence in their work. Today that includes continued time and effort to maintain and improve their technology skills (as much as some educators do not want to admit).
Here are 20 basic technology skills that all educators should now have:
- Word Processing Skills
- Spreadsheets Skills
- Database Skills
- Electronic Presentation Skills
- Web Navigation Skills
- Web Site Design Skills
- E-Mail Management Skills
- Digital Cameras
- Computer Network Knowledge Applicable to your School System
- File Management & Windows Explorer Skills
- Downloading Software From the Web (Knowledge including eBooks)
- Installing Computer Software onto a Computer System
- WebCT or Blackboard Teaching Skills
- Videoconferencing skills
- Computer-Related Storage Devices (Knowledge: disks, CDs, USB drives, zip disks, DVDs, etc.)
- Scanner Knowledge
- Knowledge of PDAs
- Deep Web Knowledge
- Educational Copyright Knowledge
- Computer Security Knowledge
6. Web site Design Skills
Educators should be able to design, create, and maintain a faculty/educator Web page/site. See the following Web sites for helpful information and tutorials on these skills.
- The WWW Help Page
http://werbach.com/web/wwwhelp.html
Web Page Design Help from Kevin Werback, a portal type help site. - Netscape’s Resources for Creating Web sites
http://wp.netscape.com/browsers/createsites/index.html
Resources for Creating Web sites page from Netscape - Teachers.Net Homepage Maker
http://teachers.net/sampler
Teacher Web site creation – interactive from Teachers.net - Web Adventure!
www.webdiner.com/webadv
Web Adventure a beginners design and creation Web site - BUBL Link: Catalogue of Internet Resources
http://bubl.ac.uk/link/w/webpagedesign.htm
Web Page Design portal page. - How Web Pages Work
www.howstuffworks.com/web-page.htm
How Stuff Works page on how Web Pages Work - Creating a Web Page
www.marshall-es.marshall.k12.tn.us/jobe/webpage.html
Web Page Design from Hazel Jobe aMarchal Elementary in Lewisburg TN. - Technology for Teachers
www.bhsu.edu/education/edfaculty/lturner/Technology_for_Teachers.htm
A listing of Web sites for web design, creation help and related information
7. E-Mail Management Skills
Educators should be able to use e-mail to communicate and be able to send attachments and create e-mail folders. See the following Web sites for helpful information and tutorials.
- Computer Skills Tutorials
http://psychology230.tripod.com/canyons_online/id4.html
E-mail tutorials from Online Learning at the College of the Canyons - Web Site 101: Small Business E-Mail Tutorial
www.Web site101.com/email_e-mail
E-mail tutorials and e-mail basics from Web site101.com - UNITAR’s PATIT Training Program: E-Mail Basics
www.un.int/unitar/patit/onlinetutorials/emailbasics.htm
E-mail basics from UNITAR - VisualTutorials.Com
http://visualtutorials.com/email.htm
E-mail tutorials from VisualTutotiral.com - The Animated Internet: How E-Mail Works
www.learnthenet.com/english/section/email.html
E-mail tutorials from Learn the Net.com
8. Digital Cameras Knowledge
Educators should know how to operate a digital camera and understand how digital imagery can be used. See the following Web sites for helpful information and tutorials.
- Digital Photography Review
www.dpreview.com
Digital Photography Review is an independent resource dedicated to the provision of news, reviews and information about Digital Photography and Digital Imaging published at the Internet address http://www.dpreview.com. - How Digital Cameras Work
www.howstuffworks.com/digital-camera.htm
How Digital Cameras Work by How Stuff Works. - The Casio Classroom: 1001 Uses for a Digital Camera
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ucfcasio/qvuses.htm
This site is designed as a reference tool putting educators in touch with creative educational applications for digital cameras in educational settings. - Digital Cameras in Education
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~cumulus/digcam.htm
Web site by Keith Lightbody – ICT Consultant Digital cameras are one of the single most successful Information and Communications Technology purchases you can make in a school. Promote visual literacy – encourage students to use digital cameras! - Technology for Teachers: Digital Cameras
www.bhsu.edu/education/edfaculty/lturner/Technology_for_Teachers.htm
A listing of Web sites about Digital Cameras and related information
9. Network knowledge applicable to your organization.
Educators should know the basics of computer networks and understand how their school network works. See the following Web sites for helpful information and tutorials.
- Knowledge Network Courses for Teachers
www.knowledgenetwork.co.za/educators/educators.htm
Knowledge Network, established in 1994, specializes in integrated technology solutions for schools, the development of teachers and learners in schools, IT Project Management for Schools and IT skills training and IT skills evaluations for companies. - An Educator’s Guide to School Networks
http://fcit.usf.edu/network/default.htm
An Educator’s Guide to School Networks - Discovery Schools Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/sci-tech/scicom.html
Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators – Computing and Technology - Kid Source Online
www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/how_can_computer_network.html
Kids SourceOnline – How Can Computer Networking Be Used in the Classroom? - What is a Computer Network
http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/edu/nie/overview/handbook/ch2.1.html
A Guide to Networking a K-12 School District - How to Guide: The Basics of Information Technology
www.enterprise-ireland.com/ebusiness/guides/basics_bht/basics_p2a.htm
Beginners Guide to Networking
10. File Mgmt & Windows Explorer Skills
All educators should be able to manage their computer files and be able to complete the following tasks; create, and delete files and folders, move and copy files and folders using the My Computer window and Windows Explorer. See the following Web sites for helpful information and tutorials.
- Grant MacEwen College: Online Student Tutorial
http://learn.gmcc.ab.ca/lol/students/tutorial/mod2/2obj2fms.html
Online Student Tutorial – File Management Skills - Oregon State University Extension Service
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ectu/training/lessons/FileManagement.pdf
File Management from Oregon State University – Extension Computing Technology Unit. - Basic Computer Skills Tutorial
www.umuc.edu/distance/odell/ctla/basic_skills
UMUC Center for Teaching and Learning – Basic Computer Skills tutorial - Alverno College’s Basic Computer Skills Tutorials
www.depts.alverno.edu/cil/mod1
Alverno College -Basic Computer Skills Tutorials.