Tech Directions - May 2008 - (Page 25)

Finstad coordinated the entire project. Matt held his team to a timeline, served as meeting facilitator, created meeting agendas, and oversaw all work schedules. In addition to their work on the center’s Web site, Gough’s WebQuil course students maintain their district’s site and the sites of all middle and elementary schools in St. Charles Parish. Gough, who has 11 years of teaching experience, learned most of his own Web skills from others, from research, from Lynda.com training, from “reading articles in every Web magazine I can find,” and simply from playing with multiple programs. Asked how he and his students benefit from the students’ Web work, Gough says, “We learn so much more than just how to build a site. Students learn critiquing skills, teamwork, scheduling, work ethic, how to work with clients, meeting etiquette, business management, working with focus groups, and many other skills. In addition the school gets great PR that we can control and students have a place to show off their successes.” Gough offers for his fellow technology educators these closing thoughts on the value of getting students involved in Web activities: “It’s not enough [for students] to learn how to use programs, but how to use tools to accomplish goals. Sometimes as teachers we get so wrapped up in meeting curriculum that what the student needs to succeed in today’s workplace is not the focus. Allowing students to build and maintain a Web site (or multiple sites) is a way to wrap all of the skills employers want and state curriculum into one project. “Most of my students will never work in the Web industry, but the workplace and life skills they learn will benefit them in whatever field they ultimately pick. We must never lose sight that the reason every student attends school and postsecondary school is to ultimately enter the workforce. Why not give them the tools to succeed early so they can be perfected earlier and ensure success in their careers?” More than Fun Answers Architecture Word Search P M B T H E R M O S T A T H H F A X M A T W S H H M T Z C B F G R Y A A C W A Z T G F T B Z N X T R J H A M S N R G I K E I D C I E R C R I H T A P V B K H R D C H O H T S E V E T P L D A Y I L T O I R S E C H G U C U M W A E D D I S N O I L A Y N C E A I B K S U E R V F C E I H T N L N O E G E N G Q Y Q S R G S W L E A M R I Y T R O P R A C V L Z O R O C X R E T F A R B B I X Z W D E A E A V E S B A D A M P E R J B G K L N A G O A L S S U R T M Chomping at the Bit WORK TABLE PULLEYS LIGHT BULB SPEED ADJUST SPINDLE DRIVE MOTOR CHUCK WEIGHTED BASE Scramble-Word Mini Challenge THREADS www.techdirections.com SCHOOL WEB SITE OF THE MONTH 25 http://Lynda.com http://www.testequipmentdepot.com http://www.testequipmentdepot.com http://www.techdirections.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - May 2008

Tech Directions - May 2008 Contents Technically Speaking Direct from Washington The News Report Mastering Computers Technology's Past Technology Today Road to Success - Service Learning Enhances Tech Ed Experience Balsa Tower Walls Brave 'Big Buster' These Kids Are Really on the Ball - Inventors Competition Winners School Web Site of the Month Animator Career Exploration Tools Guide Index to Volume 67 More than Fun

Tech Directions - May 2008

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