Students must know how to send and receive email in order to communicate. They need to know how to download and upload files. These are some of the most important technical skills that they must know.
One of the first questions that I ask my students is to make sure that they have the proper technology. Many times students try to take a course on their cell phone, which is not compatible with many LMS. The next important issue is to have computer skills, such as email, downloading, uploading and the use of Microsoft Office. In my course it is important to be able to type a document and then upload the document into the drop box so that it may be submitted. If a student does not have the basic computer skills it becomes very difficult and frustrating for the student and the possibility increases with each challenge that confronts the students.
Basic Computer Skills:
Typing skills, knowing how to use the computer mouse, word documents such as saving, editing, opening documents, also knowing how to access emails and sending emails, uploading documents just to name a few technical skills needed.
Gracie,
True, does your institution provide tutorials to help students develop these skills?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Patricia,
You are right, the technology is not ready yet for those devices. I hate to see students start with the barrier of learning being the lack of access to technology.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Anita,
How do you make sure they have that? Do you have a tutorial that helps students improve their skills.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Wow, a great question because there are many technical skills needed for the technological mediums today but I would like to think that simply the basics are sufficient to have success in the online environment, which are probably similar to those in the F2F environment, i.e., online etiquette, typing skills, research skills, uploading and understanding the coming processing tools e.g., Microsoft Office. If a student and faculty can do these simple things then they should be successful.
Michael,
I agree with you! Do you or your institution have a minimum skill set list for students. I am still shocked by the students who take an online course without a computer at their convenience. That is such a barrier.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Melissa you have a very good list here. I also find that having a training session on identifying verifiable and credible information that is sourced online is critical to a student's success as well along with the ones that you mention here. Thank you.
In addition to the skills you mention, I find that my students need to know how to save a Microsoft Word file as a .pdf, download and unzip files, and search the internet including the school's online library.
The most important skills that online students need are:
* Knowledge of computer
* MS Word
* How to paraphrase what they read online and write in their paper so that there is no issue of plagiarism.
Milka,
Here is what I do. I have a START HERE button. I have a video that walks students through the course. I repeat technology skills throughout the video as I show students where and how to use them. This can help identify gaps.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Amy,
That is true. They will need that skill later also.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Jumana,
You through in paraphrasing. Students don't always know this!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
After dealing with this for several years, I have solved it in most cases by creating my first assignment in the class so that it requires all of the basic skills that will be needed in that class. If the student has the skills, the assignment is easy and basically a "freebie". It almost always identifies issues in many of the students however. Not only with online skills, but often technical issues with their computer, network, etc.
There are a number of technical skills that are essential for online students to be proficient within an online learning environment. It can range from having Internet access, understanding how to Web browse in a critical manner, research skills, and user knowledge of learning management systems.
Kelly,
First and foremost, students must understand the programs they will be utilizing in the online program. I find so many times that I will ask students if they have Adobe and it is as if I am speaking a foreign language to them. Next, I find it important that the student knows how to download and save files and also how to look up information w/in the respective LMS.
Thanks!
Eryn
These skills are essential for online students
-Opening browsers
-Utilizing search engines
-Writing emails and sending attachments
I feel that these are the basics that need to understood, if not the student will not be able to engage in the forum. Also these fundamental branch off into other tasks such as submitting projects and interacting in messages boards as well.
I agree with the technical skills that are listed. We provide a basic course on computer skills, research tools and the LMS.
Our programs are designed to reinforce technical skills as students move along from one course to the next - all in preparation for the "real world".
In my experience as an online instructor, I feel that students should have the following skills:
- They must be able to complete a document using Microsoft Word or Notepad.
- They must understand how to log into the LMS.
- They need to understand how to upload a document for assignment submission.
- They must understand how to communicate using an e-mail system.
- They need basic computer skills like being able to access the Internet and use a search engine.
I think these skills are vital for an online student. I have found myself in many one-on-one sessions tutoring students on how to perform several of these tasks.
Twyla Arnold
