Many web developers will now offer content manageable websites (CMS) sothat clients are not reliant on the developer to make changes to text andpictures (even create new pages) when they are required. The advantage to theclient is that changes can be made as and when required and being dependent onthe developer finding the time to do it. This is necessary for a website todayas it can become dynamic and responsive, not just a passive brochure site. This has to be positive moves forward in userstaking control of technology.
I see two issues that need to be addressed and resolved:
1. Every web developer Ispeak to seems to offer a different CMS product be it: open source, bespoke ora commercial. I guess some solutions will be more suited to some business thanovers but what are they key feature we should look for or be told about whendeciding on the most appropriate CMS site for a business?
Is there not a training need for business leadersand owners so they are able to make informed and therefore appropriate choiceswhen deciding on a CMS system for their business?
2. What is the level oftraining is provided by the developer to ensure that the client has thecapability to manage the site as intended? As with all potentially brilliant systemsit will only be as good as the training its users receive. Many web developersand programmers I find are not natural trainers and therefore undertake atraining role reluctantly. What training that does take place may just consistof an hour’s introduction and some help notes. This cannot be considered adequatefor the client to have the understanding and capabilities to content managetheir site successfully.
Poor training leaves the risk of changes to thesite looking messy and amateurish. Spoiling the original site design. My experienceis with Joomla and I know form this experience that a good number of hour’s trainingwill be required, the amount also dependent on the level you wish the user tomanage at.
I would love to hear other opinions. |
Michael Gove today announced the ‘scraping’ of ICT inschools for it to be replaced with a IT curriculum rich in computer sciences. Heis right to label current the ICT curriculum boring, after all that that is one of many reasons I gaveup teaching. If I did not enjoy or see the relevance of what I was expected toteach, how could the kids I was teaching? I fear that what will replace ICT willprove to be as equally boring if not more, appeal to only a small majority ofyoungsters and disengage girls from the technology.
ICT has always been about having the understanding of andthe capability to use technology available to us. Some of the problem inschools has been that:
a. Teachers from other subjects have been used tofill in ‘timetable holes’ at Key Stage 3. Many of have been happy to be usersof ICT within the comfort zone of their own subject areas but have struggled todeliver discreet ICT lessons. Support for these teachers has been inadequate.The bottom line being: if the teacher is not enjoying teaching the lesson howcan you expect the children to?
b. ICT has become just another subject to bestudied, assessed and reported, so rigid confines have been set. To me IT hasalways been a material to be worked with hardware and software being the toolsto work that material. ICT is about having the skills and capability to workthis material; it is a practical discipline, you have to be creative with itand when allowed to treat it as such the results children achievements can besurprising, exciting for all and real leaning takes place. ICT is constantlychanging but there has been little flexibility within National Strategy andexamination specifications to enable exploration of new uses of this material.
My fear that if we move to scrap ICT, introducing computerscience and coding there will be very little creativity. We will producecomputer technicians and not computer users.
I have no problem with cross curricular ICT, I have been anadvocate of that for over 20 years and it was a part of my role as an Advisoryteacher to instigate whole school ICT auditing. It should continue and bestrengthened.
The problem with cross-curricular delivery of ICT it that isa user of the technology; e.g. a scienceteacher wants only to be able to use a spread sheet to model an experiment,they are not interested in teaching the skills and understanding needed to createthe spread sheet. Discreet IT should deliver the capabilities that can be usedby other subjects. It should also give a holistic picture of ICT and the natureof data; that data is able to move between applications and it yourunderstanding of generic software applications enables you to derive theinformation you require from that data. It should also have the freedom toexplore new technology and allow some creativity and fun. These ICT lessonsshould be taken by ICT specialists.
I am a great believer that if the teacher is having funteaching and the children are having fun good learning takes place. If theteacher is not having fun but the kids are they are having fun at the teachersexpense and no learning is taking place. Sadly many of the later lessons werethe ICT lessons taken by other subject specialist out of their comfort zone.
As for teaching of coding, children should be aware of it,understand the importance of code and undertake some practical tasks todemonstrate how it works but not learn programing. Our nation’s workforce needseveryone to be able to successfully drive the technology; we do not needeveryone to be skilled at working ‘under the bonnet’ only understand whathappens there. What is highly important is that those that do work ‘under thebonnet’ should very highly skilled. Acquiring those skills is a role for vocationaleducation but there lies another discussion. |
Bespoke training is training designed to meet the differing needsof the learner or learners. A training program can be formulated so that thetrainer works with individuals or small groups to equip them with the skillsand capabilities to use software and systems already available to then at theirwork place. What is learnt can be put to immediate use for the benefit of bothbusiness and employees, providing value for money in training investment.
Advantages of Bespoke Training · Exact training program is negotiated beforestarting. · Prior knowledge and capability can be taken intoaccount. · As many hours training as needed, these can bebroken into short 2 hour session. · The course can be delivered when required at atime and date best suited to the business giving minimal disruption to normalworking schedules. · Learn at your own pace. · Targeted at the need of the business. · Flexibility - pace and course content can changeif needed. · Can be undertaken at the workplace. · The majority of what is learnt is put immediate usefor the benefit of the business. |
