[Oz-gifted] computer competition

[Sandy Horne]

Ellen wrote in response to me:

> >  We can now have the strange situation
> >where a computer literate 12 year old student may well know more than most
> >of her teachers.
>
>So?  Unless it's an IT teacher, this should not be a surprise.  How
>many specialities should a teacher have?

Computer skills should not be seen as a specialty but rather as an
integral part of everyday life - like spelling, writing and mathematical 
skills.

> >Teachers
> >expect their students to have open minds and be ready to learn new
> >things yet have this unfortunate attitude when it comes to new technology.
> >There are exceptions but, IME, the majority of teachers need to
> >get with the times.
>
>How will they do this?  More training courses?  Or are they supposed
>to be pottering at home in their copious free time?

This sarcastic comment gives a glimpse into the attitude I was
talking about - the "it's too hard / I don't have enough time" thing.
It's not too hard.

Teachers like to be regarded as professionals. Professionals are
always having to learn new things and keep their skills up to date.
I face this in my own industry where I either learn the new stuff
or I go out of business.

I agree that things are changing. Surely when the next generation
of teachers come into the system things will be different. But it's
not too much, I think, to expect the current crop to keep up.

But I get the impression that I've been misunderstood. I don't
believe teachers should (on the whole) be expected to be able
to build computers or program computers. What I expect is just
some basic skills - email, internet and word processing abilities.
These are absolutely essential to just about everyone these days.
And it's not rocket science. If you can get a teaching degree,
you can learn to use a computer.

Sandy
horne at senet.com.au


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