Re: Computer Integration vs Computer Education

Rowena James (jam@gil.com.au)
Mon, 29 Jul 1996 23:10:18 EDT

Dear EDTECH's
IMHO:
As a teacher of English in a large urban secondary school, I find students
come to me with the computer education skills all in hand. They use these
skills and share them amongst us all while completing tasks within our
English program. Teaching computer education skills has not been an issue
for me. Learning computer education skills and sharing them with my
colleagues has been more the issue.
Rowena James
Head of Department, Learning and Teaching
Kenmore State High School
Brisbane.

>Jennifer Reed wrote:
>>I'm interested in starting a discussion on the pros and cons of Computer
>>Integration vs Computer Education. There is a case for both and both types
>>of education is needed. [...]
>
>I have observed that he acquisition of knowledge and skill about more
>advanced features of any piece of software comes easier and is retained
>longer if the feature is learned in context and only when the feature is
>needed in a "real" project.
>
>If the premises in the last two paragraphs are true, then it sould seem
>that computer education (learning about the tools) would best be integrated
>into computer integration (learning with the tools). In other words,
>students would be best served to be placed into activities in which they
>learn with the tools, learning about the tools on an as-needed,
>just-in-time basis.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Rowena James (jam@gil.com.au) "Happiness adds and multiplies
Queensland, Australia. as we divide it among others".