I'm glad you mentioned the TIPs program, Amy. For those of you who
aren't familiar with it, the TIPS program (Technology Instruction
Program for Students) is being developed to help students use
technology. It relies on a variety of venues, from one-on-one or small
group sessions done at the TIPs desk in the second floor Milne Library
Lab or workshops in the new technology training room on the third floor
of Milne Library, or through classroom lectures at the request of
instructors. The idea is that faculty can make assignments that require
the use of technology applications knowing that help for the students is
available. Raphael Web is the person to contact for more information.
In this beginning stage (the program has been in existence for less than
a year) we are focusing on Microsoft Office applications, but we would
like to expand to cover other software.
The model for this program comes from George Mason University which has
several different programs, some that specialize in multimedia creation,
and some that focus on office productivity software, for example. Like
the George Mason program, we are using student employees to do much of
the one-on-one help through our TIPs desk in the Milne Library Lab.
We have been talking about an exciting next stage for this program,
which would provide help for students making presentations. This would
involve creating a new lab in the library that would provide equipment
such as digital video editing stations and large format printing and
help for students making multimedia presentations. We also would like to
have a presentation rehearsal room where students could practice
presentations which are videotaped for later viewing from any computer
through a streaming video server. Georgia Tech's multimedia presentation
lab is one model for this kind of room.
There are certainly lots of ways students learn about technology, and I
envision the TIPs program as being one tool in our toolkit, along with
others such as the mini courses Sven mentioned might be developed.
By the way, the TIPs program is mostly funded through the student
technology fee. We would welcome ideas and suggestions as we develop
this new program.
Janet Potter
Associate Provost for Library & Information Services
SUNY College at Oneonta
Oneonta, N.Y. 13820
-----Original Message-----
From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Amy Crouse-Powers
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 4:11 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Software Bottlenecks for Students
I think the issue is that there are skills that students need *now* that
would aid in their learning lives. For example, a lot of profs are
asking students to do PowerPoint enhanced class presentations or to
create a website. These skills can't wait until the students in the
working world. And people shouldn't be afraid to give assignments that
incorporate technology, either. I've seen some really exciting uses of
technology that can really enhance a student's ability to think
critically and make important connections.
For my part, when I required a skill such as PowerPoint, I gave over
some class time to demonstrate basics and met with students individually
as the need arose. That usually sufficed to get them to a level of
proficiency high enough to do the assignment. If I didn't do those
things, though, I couldn't have given the assignment (in good
conscience).
I was pleased to see, recently, that the TIPS program is doing some of
the training I did for my own students. If I were still teaching the
class in which I required a PowerPoint presentation, I'd have students
who needed "training" in PowerPoint go to a TIPS class. I wonder if
that program could be expanded to incorporate some of the other software
programs.
Just my two cents.
Amy
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Amy Crouse-Powers
Senior Staff Assistant
Continuing Education & Summer Sessions
SUNY College at Oneonta
http://continuinged.oneonta.edu
http://summerclasses.oneonta.edu
http://www.oneonta.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Zanna McKay
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 3:49 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Software Bottlenecks for Students
Jim, I would be interested in your take on what students need to know. I
tend to feel that the changes are so rapid that training like that will
need to be done on the job. What does the literature of the field say?
Thanks, Zanna
> From: Jim Greenberg <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2006 12:53:52 -0500
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Software Bottlenecks for Students
>
> Tbers,
>
> From my vantage point, more and more faculty at the College are trying
> to figure out ways to include training in programs like Photoshop,
> InDesign, Dreamweaver, Final Cut, Pro Tools, and even Flash for their
students.
> Knowing the Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
> isn't enough any longer and that students in growing numbers now also
> need to know how to manipulate images, edit video or audio, layout
> posters, or build animations. Faculty are struggling with the problem
> of knowing their students need to know how to use these programs and
> the lack of opportunity at the College that learn them.
>
> I'd be interested in your ideas about this issue. Do you believe your
> students need to know these programs? Do you have the expertise in
> your departments to teach it to them (or even the time in your
> courses)? What types of things can the College do to address this
need?
>
> I appreciate the argument that we are not about "training" students to
> use certain software packages, yet the issue continues to raise its
> head. I'd be more than happy to try and champion a solution to this
> issue for our students - but I want to be sure it is a real problem
> and if it is, get a sense for what faculty would like done.
>
> Thanks in advance for any ideas or thoughts you have about this. You
> can post them back to the TB list or email them directly to me.
>
> Mr. James B. Greenberg
> Director Teaching, Learning and Technology Center Milne Library SUNY
> College at Oneonta Oneonta, New York 13820
>
> email: [log in to unmask]
> phone: 607-436-2701
> fax: 607-436-3081
> IM: oneontatltc
>
> "Ignorance is curable, stupidity lasts forever"
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