Learning computer skills

Article: Learning computer skills (PDF)

Objectives

• To become more aware of each individual's learning style.
• To discuss different learning methods.

Method

1. Survey the class to determine the top five computer skills that students have. Do computer skills of boys and girls differ? Ask the class how each skill was acquired. Do the learning methods differ for girls and boys?
2. Ask the students if they learn computer skills more easily when they are learning with others or by themselves. Is there a difference between boys and girls? Discuss why this might be.
3. Ask the students to interview parents or other family members about their computer learning experiences: the method they like best, and use most, to keep pace with changes in their field.
4. Ask the students if any of them plan to become computer professionals (e.g., systems analysts, computer programmers, software engineers, Web masters). How would they go about getting the skills needed to become a computer professional?
5. Ask the boys in the class "If you had to learn a new programming language to complete a school assignment, how would you go about learning it?" Ask the girls the same question and compare how learning methods differ.

Using other resources

• Read the Canadian Social Trends articles "Learning on your own" (Spring 2001) and "Kids and teens on the Net" (Autumn 2001). Teachers can access over 15 lessons for use with computer technology courses and over 250 lessons in all at the Resources by school subject page. One of these lessons, the "Statistics Canada Web page contest," encourages students to display data in creative ways based on data in the STC Website. The Web page should display data visually and illustrate conclusions that can be drawn from the data. A $100 prize is given for the best Web page prepared by a student for each grade level.

Please e-mail comments or examples of how you used this exercise in your class.