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"