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The digital medium is now the
medium of our time. Consequently, a new type of information literacy is now
required to work effectively and efficiently with this new medium. New software, new
hardware devices and new ways of using information technology devices are being developed
and marketed at a rapid rate. Teaching strategies used in educational environments need to
be employed to create a learner-centred environment that empowers the learner to learn
how to learn to use the ever-changing range of information technology tools.
- The development of teacher skills in the field of
information technology in both primary and secondary schools ought to be contextually
specific to the educational environment. Specifically, teachers ought to have the
opportunity to develop skills in using application software to generate the types of
products that teachers are required to use in their everyday professional life. These
include exam papers, class activity sheets, assignment sheets, reports, memos,
result-tracking documents, manuals and submission documents.
- The Netride Teacher Skill Development
Program will always address the Schooling 2001 policy statements on
information technology and address competency levels in each dimension.
- The approach developed by The Netride
is outcome-oriented as opposed to skill-oriented. There is little point in acquiring a
skill that is never used. When a goal has been identified, the skills necessary to achieve
the goal become a logistical issue that can be identified and resolved. The learning
strategy is the link between the goal and the skill.
- In order for teachers to become efficient users of
information technology tools, it is best that teachers experience how to learn about using
information technology tools. The approach taken by The Netride is
learner-centred rather than trainer-centred. Once the trainer is no longer available, it
is desirable that the learner can continue to develop their range of skills and their
ability to utilise those skills in the development of contextually relevant products.
- Each school or cluster of schools has goals that it
wishes to achieve that will be different to other schools or clusters of schools. Without
a set of desired outcomes, any skill development program will have a minimal level of
success and will not be seen as a cost-effective investment.
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