Module+8+Reflection


 * __Reflection Prompt __****: ** Describe a technology experience you had this week.

**Description:** I ran a lab help section and was surprised at how many students still had no idea how to save a Word.doc to a specific destination on their computer, open it up, modify it and resave to the same destination.

**Impact:** I ran a lab help session and recruited students to come by personal phone calls, auto dial, and email. I had 36 students show up, some of which it was their first time coming to a lab help session (it is terrible that it has taken them all year to come, but their arrival is also reason to celebrate – maybe this will become a habit)! To my surprise two students had no idea how to save the file transfer (a word.doc) of the lab report to a specific destination on their computer.

Most of them accepted the transfer without noting or directing where it should be saved. Then they were unable to pull the file up to begin working on the report. It took at least 10 minutes of valuable class time trying to get these students’ reports to an accessible location on their computer. Not surprisingly, saving and opening the lab report was not the last of the difficulties.

When we began filling out the lab report several students could not ‘write’ on it. We had to discuss file conversions, menus, and features of Word. Others did not know how to save changes. Still more had continued difficulty with the graph (an issue I have taken several steps towards fixing throughout the year).

While I intended for the lab help session to be a form of remediation this was extreme. About 30% of the time was used trying to alleviate basic computer difficulties. It would be so much easier if students were required to take a basic competency exam before starting in our school. Then based on the outcome be given remedial courses.

**Intent:** While I can suggest or even request a basic competencies exam to be given I cannot actually enforce or implement it. However, I can take a survey among students, on the first day of the year to have them evaluate their basic technology literacy. From that point I can create a plan of action to help remediate any issues.

For example, I can run a biweekly meeting (ClassConnect) to deal with problematic topics. To help those who cannot attend (and those who chose not to attend) but need to, I can record all sessions and add them to a help depository that students can access all year for assistance. My intention is that the early intervention should help student performance throughout the school year.