What Do Teachers need to teach?

[Bill Ries-Knight <brk@slip.net>]

I want to shift the focus a bit.

There are as many different kinds of teachers as there are people.  Each
person approaches the task differently, and I think we need to focus a
bit on those things a teacher need to do the job.

1>    A teacher needs different information for grades K-6 than for say
grades 6-12 (intentional overlap)  and a college professor's needs are
different yet.

2>    A teacher needs different information to teach computer basics
than to teach a specific application which differs again from
programming.

3>    A teacher needs to have a CLEAR understanding of the information,
and outside of the seminar/classroom model, narritve materials are just
as useful as HOW-TO's.  It is often easier to work from "printed on
paper information" if one is not accoustomed to sittin in front of a
monitor for hours on end.

4>    Plan materials with the concept of time in mind.  Most teachers
teach more than one subject or subdivision of a subject, and need time
to prepare for the next lesson. With less than an hour between classes,
it is important that the material be divided into small segments of
information (chapters)

5>    Consider that these teachers have never used a computer beyond the
basics of word processing, spreadheet and browser.   The material should
be availible in three levels, each covering the same information in a
different manner.  There is a great deal of importance in providing
information in terms many laypersons can understand.  There are only a
few teachers that have achieved the highest levels of computer
knowledge, most are actually closser to the novice level.

Regards
Bill