Some guidelines help in undertaking self-instruction or professional training.

1. Where to start and how to build a skills set?
2. What preparation is needed to support and challenge students using technology?

Answering these two questions is the basis for integrating technology that empowers teaching.

The web offers numerous tutorial learning options, www.Lynda.com and www.AtomicLearning.com are favorites and offer a wealth of basic training across a wide variety of applications. For those who know what they need to learn it is a superb starting point and a superior refresher site. Yet, it's long lists of skills can be daunting . This is where you go when you know what you need to learn.

Spending money on high-end cellphones, digital cameras, and computer equipment is money wasted if you stuck in "auto" mode. Spending time, dollars and training, on software, not hardware, makes technology work for you.

Technology Competency

Doug Johnson - Competency Self-Evaluation Tests

Competencies

• Basic word processing
• Basic spreadsheets
• Basic presentation skills
• Email attachments
• Basic image editing/resizing

Proficiency Tips

• keyboard shortcuts
• automating routines
• intermediate skills
• using listservs
• great presentations

Fluency & Power

• instinctive integration with teaching
• comfortable oversight and assistance with student use
• instant web posting
• blogging, vlogging, podcasts
• confidence in approaching new hardware and software

Keyboarding - the essential skill without which you are immediately dismissed by today's students.

Equipment Skills

This page was last modified on January 27, 2009. Comments and suggestions to: Karolyne@gmail.com