Technology Training

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Technology Training

April 1, 2007

It's vacation at school, but I am flying to Charlotte, NC, as part of a team to evaluate Providence Day School's computer science curriculum. I look forward to talking with and thinking with others about the important subject of computer science. (The weather at home is nice, if a bit cool. My flight was delayed because part of the crew was delayed getting to Detroit. The 1:40 pm flight did not actually take off until 3:30 pm, after our scheduled landing.)

Providence Day has asked us to consider: "What is the best way to deliver the newest technology training for students - integrated into the curriculum or in dedicated computer science department courses?" This interesting and important question has been debated for years and I have some thoughts.

Technology, as we think of it in education today, is (a set of) tools programmers created using the principles of computer science. Technology tools are widely used in colleges, business, and everyday professional life. So, it makes sense to make sure our students know how to use them. Newer technology tools, like digital video and networked resources and digital video, will become increasingly important for a good education.

Knowledge and skills learned in one class are most useful for students when they are reinforced in other classes. So, all classes reinforce proper use of reading and writing. Mathematics skills are useful in science classes, word processing is used in many classes, presentation tools can be used in many classes, and spreadsheets can be used where appropriate.

When asking which teacher should teach technology, ask: Which teacher should teach writing? A writing teacher, or someone else? Which teacher should teach mathematics? A math teacher, or someone else?

The answer is, a specialist should teach the important parts of the curriculum in each subject area, with reinforcing use in other classes. Technology and computer science have become so important that they should be treated as a subject, and not be considered just an add-on to other subjects.