Are High School Students Prepared
with Basic Technology Skills They
Need for College?
A Discussion of the Technology Skills
that an Incoming College Freshman
Should Possess
Presented by:
Cindy Ross, Bowling Green State University, Senior Lecturer
Cindy Edwards, Bowling Green State University, Teaching Assistant
John Mansel-Pleydel, Bowling Green State University, Teaching Assistant
Are High School Students Prepared ?
• Context
– Introduction to Educational Technology (EDTL
2300) is a 2-credit hour course required of teacher
candidates in the College of Education and Human
Development at Bowling Green State University.
– EDTL 2300 is a State of Ohio TAGs (Transfer
Assurance Guides) course.
Are High School Students Prepared ?
• Context continued…
– The course is a Freshman Level Course
– The course was moved from a face-to-face learning
environment to an online course.
– Over 450 students are enrolled each semester
– Course is taught by TA’s (Teaching Assistants)
– TA’s are students who are working on their Master degree
in Classroom Technology
– TA’s are mostly classroom teachers working on their
degree part-time
State of Ohio TAGs (Transfer Assurance Guides)
• The learning outcomes for the course are:
– Develop basic technology competencies through effective use of multiple
operating systems.
– Develop the basic understanding of productivity and utility software
capabilities and be able to use a variety of applications.
– Develop the basic understanding of using existing and emergent educational
technologies in achieving curricular goals including classroom management,
curriculum design, and instructional strategies.
– Develop an understanding of copyright law, use of copyrighted materials,
software licensing, and other ethical issues.
– Develop the ability to align curricular goals, instructional objectives, and the
capabilities of electronic media through the principles of effective visual
design, specification of clear instructional objectives and the production of
electronic media in various digital and non-digital formats.
Are High School Students Prepared ?
• Course Content
– Key Assessments
• Google Document
• Google Spreadsheet
• Google Form
• Prezi
• Implementation of the TCM (Technology Competencies
Module) for students that do not meet target parameters of
the key assessment will take place in fall 2014.
– Exposure to various Digital Devices
• iPod Touch, iPad, Digital Microscope, Smartboard,
Document Camera, Digital Video Camera, Cricut Machine
Are High School Students Prepared ?
• Course Content continued…
– Internet
• Website Evaluation
• Advanced searching
– Web 2.0 Tools
• Wordle, Glogster, Popplet, Prezi
• Digital Imaging Tools such as Fotoflexer, Splashup
Are High School Students Prepared ?
• Course Content continued…
– Technology in Education
• NETS-S and NETS-T (National Technology Standards
for Students and Teachers)
• Digital Generation
• Multiple Intelligences
• Designing and Planning for Technology
• Technology for Diverse Learners
• Teens and the Internet
• Distance Learning
• Issues with Implementing Technology in Schools
• Emerging Technologies
Are High School Students Prepared ?
• Course Content continued…
– Technology in Education
• Technology Issues
– Copyright
– Acceptable Use Policies
– Social Interactions, Cyberbullying, Internet Safety
– Privacy and Freedom of Speech
– Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism
Are High School Students Prepared ?
• Introduction Survey
– Survey was given to students in EDTL 2300 after
the 3rd week of the course
– Survey was voluntary
– Survey was designed to determine the prior
technology skills/knowledge of students
– Students are self-evaluating their technology skill
level and knowledge
Is EDTL 2300 the first on-line course you have
taken?
Answer
Response
%
Yes
202
83%
No
42
17%
Total
244
100%
If you answered No to the above question, indicate the
type of on-line course participation
Answer
Response
%
as part of a high school course
10
24%
Home school course
0
0%
College course while in high school
12
29%
College course
18
44%
Other (please indicate)
1
2%
Total
41
100%
Survey Results
244 students
Question
I have never
done this
I can do
this with
some help
I can do
this by
myself
I am an
expert and
can help
others with
this.
Format a text document (e.g., set
tabs/margins, insert page
breaks/tables)
7
20
128
77
Create a multimedia presentation (e.g.,
Powerpoint)
1
14
125
92
Create and update a spreadsheet
(e.g., Excel)
20
101
87
24
Create and update a database (e.g.,
Access, FileMaker, Google Forms)
100
87
38
6
Import and edit still digital images
(e.g., digital camera)
25
46
114
46
Import and edit digital video
70
78
59
24
Import and edit audio
92
83
39
15
Credit and edit a blog
97
67
47
19
Contribute to a collaborative Wiki
126
63
37
6
Use a technology tool to create a
136
55
35
5
Question
I am
unfamiliar
with this
tool and
have not
used it.
I am
familiar
with this
tool but
have not
used it.
I have
used this
tool
I am an
expert
with
using this
tool
Google Documents Word
Processing tool
41
44
94
53
Google Documents
Spreadsheet tool
70
81
65
16
Google Documents
Presentation tool
70
72
60
30
Google Forms
97
89
38
8
Google Sites
44
47
100
39
Prezi
95
61
61
14
Wordle
174
23
31
4
Glogster
189
25
15
3
Question
I am
unfamiliar
with this
tool and
have not
used it.
I am
familiar
with this
tool but
have not
used it.
I have
I am an
used this expert
tool
with
using
this tool
Quizlet
122
42
53
14
Popplet
198
22
7
1
Interactive Whiteboard (such
as a Smartboard)
16
33
132
48
Digital Microscope
137
54
35
5
iPad
6
16
107
103
iPod Touch
3
7
99
121
Document Camera
72
74
66
20
Digital Camera
7
6
104
114
Question
I have
never
done this
I can do
this with
some help
I can do
this by
myself
I am an
expert and
can help
others with
this.
Copy, paste or move items from one
file to another
0
3
67
162
Can identify the components of a
computer and explain what they are
used for (ex. monitor, network card,
hard drive, modem, etc.
32
111
64
25
Organize and backup files from
different locations on my computer
(flash drive, hard drive, network
drive)
13
44
108
67
Use the "cloud" to save and retrieve
my saved files
84
61
61
26
Identify common document, sound,
video and graphic file extensions
(.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .jpeg, .m4a,
.wmv)
42
112
55
23
Know how to evaluate on-line
resources for credible information
11
71
114
35
Question
I have
never
done this
I can do
this with
some help
I can do
this by
myself
I am an
expert and
can help
others with
this.
Use advance search tools such as
Boolean to search the Internet
105
65
51
10
Use various search engines beyond
general search such as meta-search
engines, news feeds, etc.
60
68
86
17
Correctly give credit (citation) for
technology sources of information
(such as text, image, movie, sound,
music or Internet web sites)
14
86
107
25
identify the possible bias of a website
[bias means opinions, point of view]
10
72
124
25
Identify, discuss and understand the
terms of a AUP (Acceptable Use
Policy)
81
74
69
8
Identify, discuss and understand the
ethical safe, legal, and responsible
use of information and technology as
a future teacher
14
72
111
34
Skills that an Incoming College Freshman
Should Possess
– File Management and the “cloud”
– Web based tools such as Google Drive
– Web 2.0
• Concept Mapping tools
• Presentation tools
• Creativity tools
– Learning Management Systems
• Edmodo, Schoology, Blackboard, etc.
Skills that an Incoming College Freshman
Should Possess
• Creation of digital media projects
– Audio
– Video
• Online Publishing
– Blogging
– Discussion posts
– Wikis
Skills that an Incoming College Freshman
Should Possess
• Skills used in online/blended learning
• Internet Searching
– Use of Booleans
– Use of Keywords
• Digital Literacy
Discussion, Questions and Final
Thoughts
Contact information:
Cindy Ross: rosscin@bgsu.edu
Cindy Edwards: cjedwar@bgsu.edu
John Mansel-Pleydell: jmansel@bgsu.edu