On GameFAQs: The top 10 most terrifying PC games
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 10 of 37:
Next »
« Previous
Basic competency is only a small part of the equation
Sure, every information worker today should have a basic competency in how to operate a computer and navigate an Operating System user interface. But that is only a small part of the equation.

The techie in this case sounds like they have gone beyond basic competency. When I read that the techie had "automatically brought up the browser and assigned a tab for each thing the teacher needed to accomplish for the day", the techie has helped those teachers productivity by showing them how to use an application, the browser, to create a workflow for their daily activities, thus saving them minutes or hours per day and allowing them to spend more time teaching or researching ideas for new class activities.

Basic competency in technology is only part of the equation. Information workers need to be shown how techonolgy can make them more productive by an analysis of their daily workflow and what applications can be used to make them more productive. Some information workers can see that they can use application X to accomplish some task, but if they don't understand the features of application X, they may never make that connection.

Don't just teach them about the various applications that they have on their desktop. First find out something that they are doing today that could be automated by one or more applications that you want to teach them about, then show them how those applications can be used to automate the task. By teaching in context you not only help them learn the features of the application on their desktop, you also give them ideas in how they can automate other things in their daily workflows.
Posted by: Andrew Houghton   Posted on: 01/06/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

Getting Through is the Issue...  clindhartsen | 01/05/09
I'm in a similar position...  DevJonny | 01/06/09
some people just don't get it, even if they really want to  Ron_007 | 01/06/09
Your tech has the right idea  hickum | 01/06/09
And you only drive your car I bet.  Mabrick | 01/06/09
Theres definately an element of lazyness to it all  bladeoz | 01/06/09
RE: Are we spoon-feeding our users too much?  deaf_e_kate | 01/06/09
It goes both ways  k12IT | 01/06/09
Georgia mandates tech competence...  MrDage | 01/06/09
Basic competency is only a small part of the equation  Andrew Houghton | 01/06/09
Their job is to teach not technology.  bjbrock | 01/06/09
What are they teaching then?  storm14k | 01/06/09
Yes, like reading, writing, and arithmetic!  Bob.Kerns | 01/06/09
There is a life philosophy...  Mabrick | 01/06/09
What near sighted statements  k12IT | 01/06/09
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach...  ye | 01/06/09
Build A Man A Fire  andycher | 01/06/09
10!  John L. Ries | 01/06/09
Fishing  LadyGray | 01/06/09
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach...  tgstambaugh@... | 01/06/09
LOL! I enjoyed that. (nt)  ye | 01/06/09
maybe he's just hungry.....  waytoobusyforthisnonsense | 01/06/09
It's called job security  DeeDee1024 | 01/06/09
I wouldn't call that evil at all  mreilly19 | 01/07/09
Older teachers  LadyGray | 01/06/09
RE: Are we spoon-feeding our users too much?  linkx | 01/06/09
RE: Are we spoon-feeding our users too much?  guruofchem@... | 01/06/09
Most technophobic group I've seen:  John L. Ries | 01/06/09
hmm...  obliquewordsmith | 01/06/09
The bottom line  John L. Ries | 01/06/09
heh, teachers  frylock | 01/06/09
RE: Are we spoon-feeding our users too much?  eharra@... | 01/06/09
RE: Are we spoon-feeding our users too much?  Mabrick | 01/06/09
RE: Are we spoon-feeding our users too much?  cbolton@... | 01/06/09
RE: Are we spoon-feeding our users too much?  cbolton@... | 01/06/09
Are we demanding too little of our teachers?  Bob.Kerns | 01/06/09
"older teachers?"  erikswanson | 04/20/09

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads