Comments on: Welcome to IT class, children; log on and be bored stiff

By: AB

AB — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:32:37 +0000

I don’t think it’s even about enlightening them that something else can be ‘fun’ Alastair – social networking is a fact of modern (and for that matter historical) life. The way we gain information has now changed – irrevocably. That’s just a fact. Competitive business realises that it can take advantage of this – when a social network can answer a question more quickly than conventional communication networks.

Graham (I’ll keep attributing your comments even if you don’t) – far be it for me to dispute statistics with a Business Studies principal! I would argue that most unenlightened businesses fail to realise the benefits of social networking – of which Bebo is only one small example. What social networking gives someone that knows how to use it is knowledgable contacts around the world. When an individual knows how to social network well (hence educating our students how to), then their productivity can only increase. We are already seeing this both in business and in the public sector. I completely agree we need to teach our pupils how to use something they are going to be using for a number of years effectively. That includes social networking.

By: alastairturnbull

alastairturnbull — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:35:11 +0000

Therefore a balance has to be applied. A time and place for everything.

Yes, we have to teach basic skills (the boring ones) wordprocessing, powerpoints, databases, etc. But surely we should enlighten our children that there is a lot more there and which can be fun. I think that if we show what else is available in the wide world of ICT, it will broaden their horizons. Whether they decide to pursue it further is up to them. We have to open the door, show them what is there and let them get on with it.

By: Graham

Graham — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:34:55 +0000

Sorry Andrew we will have to disagree on a number of points
Firstly – According to the last Census (2001) approx 47% of all workers in Argyll & Bute work in an office environment.
Secondly – I didn’t mention “working in an office” all students who go to Uni/college need to at least use Word Processing, Powerpoint etc when in college and last year 42% of our leavers went there.
Thirdly – “Social Networking” the vast majority of employers want to avoid their staff social networking – they would much rather they go on with their work – the vast majority of things on bebo etc has very little to do with education or work.
As I said in my earlier comment – we are doing pupils a disservice if we don’t teach them how to use something they are going to be using for a number of years effectively.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:25:50 +0000

Graham – I couldn’t disagree more – social media is increasingly being used in the workplace – just not ours it seems. Also, relatively few of our pupils will go on to ‘office’ jobs, yet all will social network, so the amount of time we spend teaching office skills is disproportionate. That’s not to say we don’t need to teach the skills, but the ‘office’ skills should be taught by the business department, and not have kids bored to distraction, as everytime they sit down in a school infront of a computer they do the same tasks, yet use the device for it’s most useful purpose – networking – at home. We are missing the point.

By: Graham

Graham — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:00:06 +0000

I think we have to realise that one of the things that schools should be doing is preparing students for life after school. While I realise that Bebo, Myspace etc are all being used extensively outside school it is very unlikely students will use these things in the workplace. However they will use things like Word, Excel and Powerpoint and we are doing our pupils a huge disservice if we don’t show them how to use these programs efficeintly. As someone who has been teaching touch typing for the past 12 years and for 10 of them being told that this is a redundent skill as people will just “speak to the computer” there is a place for basic skills.

By: alastairturnbull

alastairturnbull — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 09:54:14 +0000

Thanks Andrew. Yes, it would have read better, “what should we do?”

So, it looks like we will still have a place for spreadsheets, word processing and pictures. We will just have to make it exciting and relevant.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 09:27:00 +0000

If your question intended to read 'what should we do' then for what is't worth my advice this this - Engage with them - find out how they use ICT - don't be afraid to learn from them - communicate. When we grasp this, the we realise ICT is hardly about spreadsheets, word processing and pictures (although there is a place for these...!)