Navigating the LMS platform.
Using the technical support provided by the school or the LMS platform.
Download files.
Attach files.
Keyboarding skills.
Hello,
The following are important technical skills for any online student:
1. The ability to email and upload documents in an email.
2. The ability to generate reports and various documents in Microsoft Word.
3. The ability to store documents on a flash drive and a computer.
4. The ability to use spell check.
5. The ability to search the internet for credible sources.
6. Use the school's LMS system.
Warm Regards,
Annabel
Very basic skills are the most important. This is essentially just a comfort level with using computers that allows them to troubleshoot small problems, understand what is a problem with the computer or the classroom, and when to contact me or tech support.
Dr. Wilkinson,
It is very important for students who are taking math online courses to type equations. When I first started teaching a few years ago, I assumed that students who know how to use Microsoft Word automatically knows how to insert equations in their documents. I was sadly wrong so I always make sure to include a tutorial on "how to insert equations in Microsoft Word" in their learning materials.
-Christine
Dr. Wilkinson
My university provides an orientation for students but I do find a few students who did not benefit from that orientation.
The most essential skill is computer skill to navigate through the LMS. If they can navigate the LMS, the student will find my announcements on how to contact me if they encounter difficulties; I announce and provide the technical support telephone number.
Before the session begins, I send to each student an email called First Contact. In that email I request all information on technical problems. I respond by contacting the student to provide the location of the tutorials or how to utilize the technical support assistance.
I monitor the student in the class room, and I contact students using emails and IM to determine if and when the technical issue has been eliminated.
the assignments my students are asked to submit are either in MS Word or PowerPoint. Many seem to struggle with those, so I try and do a rather thorough tutorial of both before the session begins.
They also need to be able to research topics and look at credible sites. I know that's not exactly a technical skill, but learning how to do a proper search to get the results you need is a skill my students need. But the technical skill of using Internet Explorer and other Search Engines is a necessity.
Students even struggle with Outlook sometimes and I can tell by how their emails are structured they don't completely understand the layout and the formatting.
The LMS is absolutely something they need to know how to maneuver well. Again, I go through a long tutorial of the classroom before the first chat begins; showing students how to load documents to the drop box, how to post to the Discussion Board, how to use spellcheck within the system, etc.
Those are the ones my students have had to use in the classes I have taught these past several years, though I am sure technology will change soon enough and there will be more to know. We don't have the capacity to offer our classes via mobile phones yet, or for them to be able to use video conferencing, so that is not something they need to know now, but will in the near future, I would imagine.
There are some basic technical skills that are important or online students;
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. Download and unzip files
11. Determine if you have a MAC or PC and your operating system
The above have been suggested in the CEE course material and I would certainly use these as a guideline for my students too. In addition to these being able to navigate through the school website and knowing how to use each of the icons on the website are important technical skills. Being able to work with Microsoft office comfortably is something which is crucial to given that assignments are submitted using word document.
The most basic tech skills for my students are the ones that you mentioned with the ability to upload and download files and troubleshoot file transfer problems.
I would expand to add typing skills, the ability to recover deleted documents and the use of system navigation skills for file sharing and file saving.
They need to be able to upload content. They need to be able to work inside discussion threads and see how those can help in the learning environment. They need to be able to download content as well. I think one of the forgotten things is the language. They need to be able to speak the technology language (hyperlinks, url's, etc.) If they don't understand what we are saying to them, they will get lost very quickly.
Christine,
Sadly, I wouldn't know how to do that. You recognized the deficiency and fixed it with a tutorial. This is the beauty of knowing what you can do with technology to help students use the technology.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Kathleen,
You are right. Learning the LMS is so important. We as instructors need to know the tutorials and really support students using them.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Lindsey,
Great observation. For many instructors, there is no luxury of time in many courses for students to get up to speed technology wise. This must be done quickly.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Annabel,
How do you provide help to achieve these technology skills?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Albert,
Great strategies. Your use of first contact email is a great idea to get students that are not familiar with the LMS.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Natalie,
Great post. There are skills that have to be used to be successful in an online course and students HAVE to be able to navigate the LMS and work several different types of software. We have to be upfront with students about these skills. We can help, guide, advise, but they have to learn them before learning starts.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
ROBERT,
Yes, these skills may be important to your course. Do you or your institution have an orientation to help students acquire these skills?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Francis ,
You make a great point. Students must acquire these skills quickly. If it is a five week course, that doesn't leave much wiggle room. There has to be strategies to do it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Michael,
Do you provide orientations or tutorials to help get students up to speed? The recovery of deleted documents is an interesting skills. Apparently you have had some experiences?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Turning on computer, downloading applications, navigating thru the virtual campus, running spell checks, Having a web browser, chat online, uploading files, converting files, and researching the web for questions are the technical skills.
Andrea, I usually do not do a computer refresher course for my students but I do refer them to the labs designed to help students who need some technical tutoring.
