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"