Jul

30

Computers can be difficult

Filed Under Musings 

Last week I helped my dad work through some of the new software that came with his slick digital camera.

The camera wasn’t a problem, he’d long ago figured out how to use that.

The computer wasn’t the issue. My dad is one of the most computer savvy people I know. Some of the things he can convince a spreadsheet to do would make your head spin. He’s a whiz with spreadsheets. He knows how to use a computer to its full potential.

No, for my dad editing his pictures was causing a problem. He couldn’t figure out what software to use or how to get started. It took an hour or so, but I helped him figure out which software he needed and got him started with the basics.

For me, it was a reality check. Over the past five years I’ve spent countless hours coaching the staff (and students) at my school on the use of easy and more difficult computer programs. Some of them catch on immediately, but with many I have to go over the same software several times on different days. It can be discouraging to review the same stuff over and over and over, but I was reminded how necessary it is.

Teachers are an intelligent bunch overall, but we still need ongoing coaching when we’re put in a new situation. As teachers, we review with our students when we’re covering something new. We try to find at least a couple of differt ways to cover every topic so we can reinforce material that we’ve covered once before.

It’s only natural that teachers need the same help. Schools need to find ways to teach the teachers, but that requires enough money to have a teacher devote at least part of his day to peer coaching. With school budgets being what they are, I can’t see this happening in a lot of schools.

In the meantime, I’ll coach teachers in my spare time and I’ll try to be more patient. Thanks for the reminder, Dad.

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