Technology Training
That Utilizes Technology
How can a teacher give
useful, one-on-one instruction in the constantly shifting landscape of
technology? One in
Background:
Challenge:
Technology
moves at the speed of light. What was brand new last year is already surpassed
twelve months later. How can a teacher be sure that what is being relayed to
the students is the most up-to-date, accurate reflection of the current state
of technology?
Then, how
can that teacher know that the information is being absorbed? Large classes
make it difficult to get in the minds of each student, making it nearly
impossible to truly gauge what’s being retained and what needs to be
reiterated.
Darrell
Muck, a business instructor at Gooding High, was faced with this precise
scenario. In trying to make sure his 40 students understood the basics of
computing, he found that as the software and operating systems progressed, the
books he was teaching from were instantly outdated. Replacing them year after
year was entirely too expensive.
“The
information in the books was stagnant and chronically outdated,” Muck said. “In
some cases they more harm than good.”
But
students need a source of reference, something that can be accessed easily for
studying and sharing. This is an obvious quandary: what medium is easy to use
yet consistently contains the latest advances in technology?
Solution:
Muck
discovered e-learning by LearnKey. The IC³ (Internet and Computing Core
Certification) course was exactly the kind of current, comprehensive teaching
aid he needed. IC³ covers the everyday skills that today’s computer needs,
including terms, proper computer care, surfing the Web, creating spreadsheets
and using word processors. The course is also certified under the national No
Child Left Behind law, which requires schools to create digitally literate
students.
“The best
part about the program is it provides an unparalleled resource to technology learning,”
he said. “The accessibility and structure of the course made it a perfect
compliment to what they were hearing from me. It was also extremely thorough.”
After going
through the course, Muck wanted the students to obtain their official CertiPort certifications. He knew they had picked up the
important aspects of the course, but didn’t want them to spend their money on
the test only to fail. So he utilized the exam LearnKey provided with the
course.
“I made the
students take the (LearnKey) Master Exam,” Muck said. “Those that passed with a
90% or better twice in a row, I let them take the (CertiPort)
exam. All 40 students ended up taking the exams, and all of them passed on the
first try.”
At least
one student was prepared so well by the LearnKey test that he felt that CertiPort’s was merely a practice test. It was simply too
easy.
Conclusion:
LearnKey’s
interactive e-learning provided the most thorough, demonstrative teaching aid
around. Using the IC³ course to supplement, not replace, his teaching, Muck was
able to relay to his students the most current information in computing in an
enjoyable, accessible way. All of his students were able to demonstrate their
knowledge by easily passing a certification exam,
gaining an official title they can take with them the rest of their lives.