Training Teachers for the Computer Classroom

Some will, but teachers would never ask this question about content, reading/writing/critical-thinking skills, or pedagogy. Nonetheless, teachers express a concern about knowledge when we add computers to the mix in the computer-supported composition classroom. As we note elsewhere, our teachers are writing teachers, not computer experts. We expect them to teach writing, not to teach advanced computer skills and not to service contrary computers. We also talk elsewhere (What do I do when the computers don't work?) about how our computer support staff is available to help teachers who face recalcitrant computers and printers in the classroom.

We also suggest that teachers turn their students’ computer knowledge to their own advantage in the classroom. One technique that works particularly well is to ask students who know a computer application, like email or chat, to sit next to someone who hasn’t used this application before. Because so many students use computers frequently in elementary and high school, fewer and fewer freshman come to college without any computer familiarity. Those more advanced students can help others unfamiliar with a particular application.

• Teacher Commentary: teachers don’t need to be computer experts