Andrew,
Great post. I do think that our traditional students have very shallow knowledge of these skills much like our nontraditional students our traditional students are more willing to try technology.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Andrea,
Great post, does your institution have a tutorial or a technology orientation that helps acclimate themselves to the technology?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Andrea,
I agree with you. I am amazed how many institutions will allow students to take an online course with the requirement of a computer. I think this really does cause barriers that could have been avoided.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Andrea,
I agree and there are so many resources that can be made available. It also establishes how important that is in your courses. Nice!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Alaina,
Nice observation. The new technology will allow students (and instructors) to "mark" on paper using the mouse and "colored" ink. Our Blackboard grading center allows graders do that.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Lawrence,
That is great observation. They do have to have some troubleshooting skills that will help them navigate issues and explain it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Shirley,
Great post. I think we underestimate the research and search ability of many of our students. That is so important.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Online students have to be more technical than brick and mortar students. Obviously, online learning includes technology. The ability to navigate the classroom portal, upload, download and minimal troubleshooting abilities are needed. I always provide my student with the e-mail and telephone number of the technical support group.
Dr. Wilkinson:
The technical skills outlined in the readings include the ability to:
1) Copy, cut, and paste text in a document?
2) Save a Microsoft Word file as a .pdf file?
3) Use the spell checker and thesaurus?
4) Search the Internet effectively?
5) Attach a file to an email?
6) Save and retrieve files using a USB drive?
7) Download plug-ins such as Flash, Adobe Reader, etc.?
8) Login and use the school's online library system?
9) Login and use the school's Learning Management System (LMS)?
10) Determine if you have a MAC or PC and your operating system?
Each student will find it necessary to apply these skills at some point in their education so they are all important for online students.
Dr. Ricardo Richards
David,
You are right, the technical support group should be available to the distance student. Does your institution provide an orientation for the portal and other technology usage?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
RICARDO,
Great list! The LMS is so important. I usually provide a tutorial that helps them navigate through it. That can be the greatest barrier.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I would have to say the basics:
-Searching the internet
-Uploading a document
-Opening and attaching a document
-Navigating through the online course
I think that it is best to keep it simple when it comes to technical skills. I always tell my students to ask me questions about accessing information within the course. Technical skills can be easily learned and practiced.
Kimberley,
True. It is also easy to record a tutorial with that information. It is important for students to work on those skills.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
What technical skills do you see as important for your online students?
• Login and use the school's Learning Management System (LMS)
• Login and use the school's online library system
• Save a Microsoft Word file as a .pdf file
• Copy, cut, and paste text in a document
• Use the spell checker and thesaurus
• Search the Internet effectively
• Attach a file to an email
• Save and retrieve files using a USB drive
Julie,
Do you use a tutorial or some type of orientaiton to help identify these skills to the student.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Students must know/learn how to access the Web from something other than their cell phones! Students need to learn (we need to teach them) that YouTube is for more than the latest concert video or make-up craze. Student's eyes need opening to the educational items available with both YouTube and Google.
Carolyn,
Great points. Students have skills; they just have to be used in a specific way and to have expectations for students to use the technology appropriately.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
In my class, the technical skills that are necessary are the ability to: navigate the learning management system, to upload and download files, to work in Word and Excel documents, to use a search engine, and to attach a document to an email. Also, an online homework system is used in some of my courses, and students need to learn to navigate this system.
Colleen,
It is so important that you know the important technical skills needed by your students. Does your institution provide a tutorial for your students to learn the technology available?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Our school provides a tutorial for navigating the learning management system, but not for any other skills. I use jing videos to provide course content, and I could easily make jing videos to demonstrate technical procedures. Thanks for the suggestion.
