Tech tips or skills for teachers

In providing IT tech and curricular support to teachers, I believe it is important to provide a clear direction or set of objectives to set them on the right path to success. However, technology implementation must be balanced with a clear understanding of some base skills that are necessary to succeed.

Our staff has a wide variation of skill levels when it comes to technology, let alone use of technology in the classroom. I was searching for some resources to help structure a baseline or foundation of skills that the most basic users would need as a starting point. Here is what I came across:

In 2005, The Journal published this article entitled 20 Technology Skills Every Educator Should Have.

Here is the list:

1. Word Processing Skills
2. Spreadsheets Skills
3. Database Skills
4. Electronic Presentation Skills
5. Web Navigation Skills
6. Web Site Design Skills
7. E-Mail Management Skills
8. Digital Cameras
9. Computer Network Knowledge Applicable to your School System
10. File Management & Windows Explorer Skills
11. Downloading Software From the Web (Knowledge including eBooks)
12. Installing Computer Software onto a Computer System
13. WebCT or Blackboard Teaching Skills
14. Videoconferencing skills
15. Computer-Related Storage Devices (Knowledge: disks, CDs, USB drives, zip disks, DVDs, etc.)
16. Scanner Knowledge
17. Knowledge of PDAs
18. Deep Web Knowledge
19. Educational Copyright Knowledge
20. Computer Security Knowledge

The article goes into more detail about each topic and provides links with resources for each topic. Some links may not be working as the article is several years old. If you want to know what the deep web is, here is what wikipedia had to say.

For a more recent listing of skills, I turned the NETS for Teachers.  The NETS-T provides a set of standards and indicators to improve how teachers teach in a digital-age.

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Finally, I came across this post from David Pogue of the NY Times,Tech Tips for the Basic Computer User. He summarizes some basic computer shortcuts and explanations that can be very helpful.

Here is a chart of the main Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows XP

Windows XP Shortcuts

The full list from Microsoft can be viewed here.