[LINK] UK to scrap boring IT lessons

[Jan Whitaker]

At 11:28 AM 14/01/2012, Richard Chirgwin wrote:
>The money is wasted if its only output is desktop applications, "how to
>videoconference" to prove the value of a videowall, and the like.

Given that many children are exposed to the tools before coming to 
school, or during, while at home, perhaps rather than throw them out, 
change the emphasis to better communication using modern tools. We 
never taught typing until high school in our 'old' days, and many 
times that was reserved for girls who were going to be secretaries. 
Now, keyboarding is an essential skill, even if only hunt and peck. 
But as that is being done, the actual form and language needs to be 
taught as well, distinguishing between the informal means with their 
mates and participating in the work world or applying for a loan or 
writing a letter to the editor or council.

Using video and other visual communication formats should also be 
part of communications, not IT. Many IT folks have no clue about the 
basics of well-structured communications in writing or speaking or 
the more complex means, particularly for formal settings. I teach 
these people and 70% are hopeless at writing a well-structured paper. 
Maybe too many powerpoints? Some of their papers look like that -- 
full of dot points, no exposition. They forget that dot points in 
presentations are accompanied (hopefully!) by explanations and 
filling out the message by the speaker.

Unfortunately, the combination of the tools and the communication 
application isn't present in the same teacher. We need better hybrid 
skill sets. Given the difficulty of getting good teachers in either 
discipline, good luck with that!

My $.02.
Jan



Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
~Madeline L'Engle, writer

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