EDUC 638 Blog 2

EDUC 638 BLOG 2

Today I would like to discuss eight or nine essential skills. These vary from one writer to another but most are very similar. Thy come from a variety of writers.  All are needed for technology.

 First reading seems to be the one that is listed first. Most agree that reading is important to all education and should be taught from the time a person is able to begin formal education or when intelligence is able to grasp notation. Reading is important for technology for scanning information, for skimming for overall meaning, for critiquing what’s read or written, and for integrating information from multiple sources. Later in life it helps with work instructions, emails and documents such as safety manuals, policies and reports.

Second is document use. Finding the information one needs or putting information where it is needed such as labels, lists, forms, charts graphs, and drawings. It is useful for reading signs, labels , lists, interpreting graphs and charts and creating or reading schematics or assembly drawings. Most of this essential is begun in the early grades of school as we begin to read.

Third is numeric or math. Using numbers and thinking mathematically to measure and make calculations, estimations, money accounting, time recognition for schedules, and budgets for living. Most students begin this at the age of two. Future analysis is dependent upon math.

Fourth is writing. Most students begin to learn writing along with language acquisition and reading. Writing is a part of literacy coupled with reading and speaking. It helps us to organize, record, document, provide information to persuade, request information, justify requests, and present analysis and leadership skills.

Fifth is oral communications. This usually starts to be formed at birth as a baby listens to it family and imitates sound matched with actions. It allows one to give and exchange information and ideas. It helps ask questions, explain, persuade, and present. It is used in greetings, taking messages, reassuring, comforting, persuading, seeking information, resolving conflicts and facilitates group leadership.

Sixth is working with others. This could be called social communication. It involves coordinating activities with others, working as a member of a team or a partner, and engaging in supervisory or leadership activities. Mostly this learning starts at the age of five or six.

Seventh is the skill of thinking. This should be taught early and often from first grade on as we teach constructively. It involves problem solving, job task organizing and planning, finding information, critical thinking, and especially significant use of memory and decision-making. It also helps in memorizing and in long and short term memory storage.

Eighth is computer use. This involves using hardware and software and other computer=based technical tools. My three year old grand -daughter has already begun to learn these skills.  It helps later in computation, word processing, e-mails, creating spreadsheets, gaming, and exposes the person to the real world.

Last is an add- on of continuous learning. All should become lifetime learnes. Learning through school, work, play, from co-workers and students, and from all around us experienced in our lifetime. Listening has to be a great part of this skill.

Just for my thoughts, I would like to add more skills that should become essential skills that all children should learn. These come from Zenhabits an online learning forum. They are in addition to those already listed.

The first is asking questions, the second is solving problems. The third is tackling problems. The fourth is finding passion, what excites us most and rewards us allowing us to enjoy what we are doing. The fifth independence, standing on our own. The sixth is being happy on our own, allowing to be alone and not borrowing from parents or others. The seventh is compassion, which allows us to work with others. Read the definition of love in Romans. The eighth is tolerance, Its Ok to be different but differences should be celebrated. The last and one of the most important is dealing with change. Life is an adventure and we must deal with it with excitement as things do not always work out the way we expect. We must be good agents of change. (Hall 2008)  Grace for living is a part of that.  We must un-school many of our preconceptions.

(Picciano 2011) says, “If when a child is motivated to learn more about self and the world, then I would say that schooling has achieved its overarching purpose.” Experiencing more has to be added to the essential skills.

References

Hall, D. (2008). The Technology director’s guide to leadership, Washington, DC: ISTE

Picciano, A. (2011). Educational Leadership and Planning for Technology, Boston, MA: Pearson-+