IT-newbies teaching IT

[Adagio]

Is this problem only existing in Denmark, or is this a problem all over the world?

At present time I have a programming teacher, who only knows Java... He knows a lot of java, but not THAT much... The problem is he almost only knows how to code Java... He has a very hard time to even find around the directories in Windows. He doesn't even know keyboard-shortcuts. Every time he saves a document, he always use the mouse to goto the file-menu, then click save... he doesn't know ctrl+s (Can you even live without this shortcut ).
Also whenever he's writing code, and makes a mistake (which he notices later), he uses the mouse to click where there's some wrong code, even though he's only 2 lines below that place
Even if it's in the same line he does this... also if he's in the middle of the line, but have to go to the end of the line, he uses the mouse instead of END, even though the line is very long...


...and don't get me started talking about the IT teacher on my previous school

[Solver]

An interesting, and rather common problem. There have been a few articles about it here in computer magazines, recently. Most teachers (who, mind you, teach how to use MS Office) are teachers of other subjects who are doing IT for extra money - therefore, their knowledge is minimal. Any student who uses the computer regularly finds himself with better knowledge, leave alone those who are big PC hobbyists.

[Adagio]

It's just that in the case I was talking about, it's not for everyone... the only people who can get through the exams, are people who knows much about computers, therefor it's taken for granted the teachers knows about computers... and it's a full time job...

[Harry Seldon]

I went to a technical school that had this problem. Maybe it's just easier to be an expert in one subject with peripheral knowledge of others when you have no pressing need to learn anything else.

[pchang]

Rates of Pay

How much money does a teacher at your school get paid? How much money does an IT expert at a large company get paid? I think you will see where the knowledge and talent will be found.

[Adagio]

Sure, you can't expect them to know everything, but when you know things like programming, it's taken for granted you at least know ctrl+s
We have tried teaching him several times, but he keeps forgetting...

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by ADG
Sure, you can't expect them to know everything, but when you know things like programming, it's taken for granted you at least know ctrl+s
We have tried teaching him several times, but he keeps forgetting...

thats not 'forgetting', thats just having got in the habit of doing it differently.

If he's there to teach you Java and he knows enough Java to do that, I don't see the problem?

Or does it make you and you classmates feel smarter 'cos you know more short-cuts than your teacher?

[Japher]

I don't use ctrl-s, but then I know nothing of computers, but I do know a lot of shortcut keys... Though mostly those for CIVIII...

ctrl-shift-Q for god's sake!!! That starting point sucks!

[Harry Seldon]

How much money does a teacher at your school get paid? How much money does an IT expert at a large company get paid? I think you will see where the knowledge and talent will be found.

True.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by reds4ever
Or does it make you and you classmates feel smarter 'cos you know more short-cuts than your teacher?

Nope, it's just very annoying seing him doing the same mistake over and over again... sometimes he even asks for the shortcuts, so it seems like he still likes the shortcut to be there...

[reds4ever]

I thought similar of my Comp Sci teacher way back in the day, he was 5 years behind his students in terms of what was current technology, I thought the guy was an idiot.

Now (and this isn't meant to be patronizing), I realize he was just trying to make a living and didn't care about all the modern 'bells and whistles', he taught to a silabus (BIG sp.) and when he went home he din't read computer magazines, books or write games like we did, he had a wife,kids and other stuff to do, keeping up with the state of the art wasn't important to him.

[Ted Striker]

Re: IT-newbies teaching IT

Originally posted by ADG
Is this problem only existing in Denmark, or is this a problem all over the world?

At present time I have a programming teacher, who only knows Java... He knows a lot of java, but not THAT much... The problem is he almost only knows how to code Java... He has a very hard time to even find around the directories in Windows. He doesn't even know keyboard-shortcuts. Every time he saves a document, he always use the mouse to goto the file-menu, then click save... he doesn't know ctrl+s (Can you even live without this shortcut ).
Also whenever he's writing code, and makes a mistake (which he notices later), he uses the mouse to click where there's some wrong code, even though he's only 2 lines below that place
Even if it's in the same line he does this... also if he's in the middle of the line, but have to go to the end of the line, he uses the mouse instead of END, even though the line is very long...


...and don't get me started talking about the IT teacher on my previous school

You're saying he doesn't know what he's doing because he doesn't use KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS???

[Urban Ranger]

Re: Re: IT-newbies teaching IT

Originally posted by Ted Striker
You're saying he doesn't know what he's doing because he doesn't use KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS???

Most people who use Windows on any semi-regular basis remember some keyboard shortcuts.

[JohnT]

" he doesn't know ctrl+s (Can you even live without this shortcut?)."

For some reason, I've always done Alt-F, S. Different strokes and all that, I guess.

[MattH]

Yeah, but the point is he's teaching CS and doesn't know how to use the programs correctly.