Computer Users' Roundtable

The Computer Users Roundtable is a group of teachers and administrators interested in using technology with adult education students. It meets 3 to 4 times a year. If you are interested in joining, contact either Judith Diamond or Barb Sabaj to be put on the mailing list.

Publications

Tech Tips Newsletter
A brief newsletter with helpful technology tips and tools to use in and out of the classroom.

   Apr 2008 - New Software 
   Dec 2007 -  All About Christmas: Ho, Ho, Ho!
   Nov 2007 - Using Photos in the Classroom
  Oct 2007 - Virtual Travels
  Sep 2007 - Handouts to Download
  Apr 2007 - Worksheets Online
  Jan 2007 - Create Your Own Webquests
  Oct 2006 - Blogs
  Sep 2006 - Getting Comfortable on the Computer
  Apr 2006 - Clean, Organize and Problem-Solve
  Mar 2006 - Independent Learning
  Jan 2006 - Internet and Distance Learning
  Dec 2005 - Plug-ins
  Oct 2005 - MS Word Accessibility Features
  Sep 2005 - MS Word Auto Correct Feature
  Apr 2005 - Phishing and Hoaxes
  Mar 2005 - Computer Viruses
  Feb 2005 - Spam and Spybot Protection
  Jan 2005 - Using Disk Cleanup

Choosing software

When you are trying to decide what software you should purchase, ask yourself the following questions:

• Who are your students: ethnicity, race, gender, age?
• What do you want them to learn?--be specific and don't say "everything"
• What platform and peripherals do you have?
• How much money can you spend?
• Where will this learning take place?--in a lab, in a classroom, one-to-one tutoring

Software Vendors
This PDF file includes software vendors' names, addresses, phone numbers and URLs as well as information on demos that are available on their websites. This list should be helpful to programs selecting and ordering software. It is constantly updated. If there are corrections, please contact Judith Diamond at jdiamond@thecenterweb.org.

Six Essential Learnings in a Technological Society

Technology is defined to be the combination of human imagination, inventiveness and the electronic/optical tools to transform ideas into reality.  Effective use of information and technology will require students to develop new roles in living, learning, and working in an increasingly complex and information-rich society.

The student as information seeker, navigator, and evaluator
The student recognizes and values the breadth of information sources, browses those sources, differentiates and selectively chooses sources based on soundness, relevancy; then retrieves appropriate information/data using all forms of electronic/optical media, technology and telecommunications.

The student as critical thinker, analyzer, and selector of information and technologies appropriate to the task
The student uses problem-solving techniques and technology tools to review information and data from a variety of sources;  analyze, synthesize, and evaluate it; and then transform the myriad of ideas, data, and information into useful information and knowledge.  During this process, the student discriminates among a variety of technologies and electronic/optical media to extend and expand his/her capabilities.

The student as a creator of knowledge
Using information resources and technology the student, both individually and as a successful member of a team, constructs new meaning and knowledge in all content areas, combining and synthesizing different types of information through technology, telecommunications, and computer model/simulations.

The student as effective communicator
Using a variety of appropriate technologies/media, the student creates, produces, and presents ideas, stories and unique representations of thoughts through a variety of electronic/optical media by analyzing the task before him/her, the technology tools available, and appropriately selects and uses the most effective tool(s)/media for the purpose and audience.

The student as technologist
The student develops the confidence, competence, information management strategies, and sufficient technical skills to successfully install, set up, and use the technology and telecommunications tools in his/her daily life, work situations, and learning environments.

The student as a responsible citizen in a technological age
The student understands the ethical, cultural, environmental, and societal implications of technology and telecommunications, and develops a sense of stewardship and individual responsibility regarding his/her use of technology, media, and telecommunications networks, respecting historical context and enhancing cultural lineage with integrity and concern for truth.

-- 1995-1996 Illinois State Board of Education Technology Plan

Plug-ins

These are utilities that may already be installed on your computer. If they are not, they can be downloaded from the addresses below. The utilities allow you to hear audio, see video and print document-quality text.

Acrobat Reader  www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html  Read documents that look just like they were printed and published.

RealAudio and Video  www.real.com/  Listen to sound and video.

Windows Media Player  www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.asp  Listen to sound and video.

QuickTime  www.apple.com/quicktime/download/  Listen to sound and video.

Shockwave and Shockwave Flash www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/  Experiment with interactive applications on the internet.

CAM Unzip  www.camunzip.com  Unzip compressed filed.download a plug-in here which will allow you and your students to hear music and voices on the Internet.

Have any questions or need assistance?
Contact Judith Diamond at jdiamond@thecenterweb.org.