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Basic Technology Advice for Students

Sandra Phoenix

Wed, Feb 20, 2013 11:59 AM

The Chronicle of Higher Education (ProfHacker)
February 18, 2013

Basic Technology Advice for Students

Here at ProfHacker, we've covered many aspects of guiding students in their use of information and communication technologies for their courses.

For example, Ethan discussed electronic communications policieshttp://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/developing-an-electronic-communication-policy/23606. Amy wrote about encouraging students' problem-solving skillshttp://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/encouraging-students-digital-problem-solving-skills/24372. Ryan covered digital etiquette in classhttp://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/developing-a-digital-etiquette-policy/35406. Jason offered 5 tips for dealing with gadgets in the classroomhttp://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/five-tips-for-dealing-with-gadgets-in-the-classroom/22782. And Billie provided advice regarding technology policies on course syllabihttp://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/technology-policies-on-course-syllabi/22875.

This semester, I've begun maintaining a list of tips and links under the heading "Basic Technology Advice." The more frequently I teach in a computer classroom, the more frequently I identify things that students do (or don't do) that can make using a computer a slower or more frustrating process than it needs to be. One example is the use of the keyboard instead of the mouse. I was somewhat surprised that most students don't use keyboard shortcuts for commons tasks like copy, cut, paste, and save (clicking, instead, on the application menus at the top of the screen). But I was really surprised that few of them knew to use ALT-TAB to quickly switch between applications in Windows. It's not that using keyboard commands represents some kind of super-seekrit expertise; rather, it's that tasks can take so much longer when you rely on the mouse (over and over and over again) instead of relying on keyboard shortcuts.

I've uploaded my "Basic Technology Advice" document to GoogleDrivehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1X074ZTCmZrs591jWM3iaaNPBFBCNqQ45pknHp3MQ43A/edit, and anyone can comment on it there. (If you sign in with your GoogleDrive account first, it will be easier to keep track of whose comments are whose.) The document is licensed Creative Commons for re-use, so please feel free to copy it and alter it for your own purposes. If you do so, I'd appreciate getting a link so that I can see what you've done with it.

SANDRA M. PHOENIX
Executive Director
HBCU Library Alliance
sphoenix@hbculibraries.org mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org
www.hbculibraries.org http://www.hbculibraries.org/
800-999-8558, ext. 4820
404-520-0593
Skype: sandra.phoenix1

1438 West Peachtree NW
Suite 200
Atlanta,GA 30309
Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS)
Fax: 404.892.7879
www.lyrasis.org http://www.lyrasis.org/
Honor the ancestors, honor the children.

The Chronicle of Higher Education (ProfHacker) February 18, 2013 Basic Technology Advice for Students Here at ProfHacker, we've covered many aspects of guiding students in their use of information and communication technologies for their courses. For example, Ethan discussed electronic communications policies<http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/developing-an-electronic-communication-policy/23606>. Amy wrote about encouraging students' problem-solving skills<http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/encouraging-students-digital-problem-solving-skills/24372>. Ryan covered digital etiquette in class<http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/developing-a-digital-etiquette-policy/35406>. Jason offered 5 tips for dealing with gadgets in the classroom<http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/five-tips-for-dealing-with-gadgets-in-the-classroom/22782>. And Billie provided advice regarding technology policies on course syllabi<http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/technology-policies-on-course-syllabi/22875>. This semester, I've begun maintaining a list of tips and links under the heading "Basic Technology Advice." The more frequently I teach in a computer classroom, the more frequently I identify things that students do (or don't do) that can make using a computer a slower or more frustrating process than it needs to be. One example is the use of the keyboard instead of the mouse. I was somewhat surprised that most students don't use keyboard shortcuts for commons tasks like copy, cut, paste, and save (clicking, instead, on the application menus at the top of the screen). But I was really surprised that few of them knew to use ALT-TAB to quickly switch between applications in Windows. It's not that using keyboard commands represents some kind of super-seekrit expertise; rather, it's that tasks can take so much longer when you rely on the mouse (over and over and over again) instead of relying on keyboard shortcuts. I've uploaded my "Basic Technology Advice" document to GoogleDrive<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X074ZTCmZrs591jWM3iaaNPBFBCNqQ45pknHp3MQ43A/edit>, and anyone can comment on it there. (If you sign in with your GoogleDrive account first, it will be easier to keep track of whose comments are whose.) The document is licensed Creative Commons for re-use, so please feel free to copy it and alter it for your own purposes. If you do so, I'd appreciate getting a link so that I can see what you've done with it. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.

Offord, Jerome

Wed, Feb 20, 2013 12:52 PM

Colleagues:

During our most recent membership meeting, I shared that I would be working on my Dissertation this spring and it would focus on HBCU libraries. I am happy to report that I've started the data collection process and your help is needed. A sub population of HBCU Library Alliance directors received an email from my personal account (jeromeofford@aol.com) requesting your participation. I believe this research will add value to the research on HBCU libraries and has the potential to directly impact your library. If you received a note, please let me know, directly, if you can participate. Thank you.

Jerome

Jerome Offord, Jr., MS, MLS
Interim Provost and
Dean of Library Services and University Archives
Lincoln University (MO), Inman E. Page Library
712 Lee Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Tel: (573) 681-5501 Fax: (573) 681-5511

"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history"
Mohandas Gandhi

CONFIDENTIALITY: This e-mail (including any attachments) may contain confidential, proprietary and privileged information, and unauthorized disclosure or use is prohibited. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender and delete this e-mail from your system.

Colleagues: During our most recent membership meeting, I shared that I would be working on my Dissertation this spring and it would focus on HBCU libraries. I am happy to report that I've started the data collection process and your help is needed. A sub population of HBCU Library Alliance directors received an email from my personal account (jeromeofford@aol.com) requesting your participation. I believe this research will add value to the research on HBCU libraries and has the potential to directly impact your library. If you received a note, please let me know, directly, if you can participate. Thank you. Jerome Jerome Offord, Jr., MS, MLS Interim Provost and Dean of Library Services and University Archives Lincoln University (MO), Inman E. Page Library 712 Lee Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65101 Tel: (573) 681-5501 Fax: (573) 681-5511 "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history" Mohandas Gandhi CONFIDENTIALITY: This e-mail (including any attachments) may contain confidential, proprietary and privileged information, and unauthorized disclosure or use is prohibited. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender and delete this e-mail from your system.