Ohio IT Skills Blog

Wrap-up - Reality behind 10 myths about computer skills training in Ohio

What is this series about?  Please click to read the introduction.

Review:  The 10 Myths

• Myth #10: “Our business is stable and isn’t likely to change.”
• Myth #9: “I’m not worried about a broad range of basic skills.  I need people who can focus exclusively on a single application that is the basis for their jobs.”
• Myth #8: “I can’t afford to support training for my employees.  Education is too expensive.”
• Myth #7: “I paid my taxes for the educational system to give people – my employees and prospective employees – an education.  I should not have to provide extra training.”
• Myth #6: “Security is simply a matter of tighter rules and stricter policies – training in computer skills won’t make a difference.  In fact, the more people know about the computer, the more exposed my organization is.”
• Myth #5: “There are certificate programs for everything – there’s no way to tell if this one is any different or worth anything in the end.”
• Myth #4: “If I spend time and money training my employees, they will just leave.”
• Myth #3: “People coming in at ‘entry level’ don’t need a lot of skills – that can wait.”
• Myth #2: “My employees aren’t interested in more education or training.”
• Myth #1: “Technology is the young person’s domain these days – If I need more technical skills I just hire younger people – they don’t need training."

Conclusions:
These 10 Myths About Basic Computing Skills are not the only misconceptions out there.  But they are disconcertingly common as excuses to avoid the obvious and inevitable need for a program of continuing improvement in technology life skills for everyone. 

As the pace and scale of change increases, education in the 21st century must be a continuous, life-long process.  And the best way to get started is to get the basics.

If you think you – or your employees – already have the basics – you can discover whether you are correct through a simple and inexpensive assessment also offered by through Ohio Computing Unlimited’s program called TechReady™.  TechReady is correlated to the ICDL certification program and leverages the ICDL definition of basic computing skills.  For a few dollars per person, employers can determine where their staffs stand – and then take action to bring employees up to whatever standard is appropriate. 

Ohio Computing Unlimited is introducing ICDL because it is a program designed for the continuous learning world of the 21st century.   It does not probe the airy heights of the newest or most complex technology.  But ICDL does provide a standard – universally acknowledged level of knowledge from which to move on.

Ohio’s computing capacity for employees and student will be unlimited when everyone has the basic level of knowledge needed to perform the basic functions required for survival in today’s educational and professional worlds.

Don’t ignore the basics.  Embrace them, and look into ICDL as a mechanism for getting on the right road of continuous learning for the employees of your enterprise.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

No 1 - Perhaps the most dangerous myth about computer skills training

What is this series about?  Please click to read the introduction.

Myth #1: “Technology is the young person’s domain these days – If I need more technical skills I can just hire younger people – they don’t need training."

Don’t mistake confidence for competence.  If American business could thrive solely on cell phone and game console skills, this statement might be correct.  However, that is not the case – one has to consider the evidence that young people leaving high school and entering college or going into the workplace are woefully behind in their knowledge of business oriented applications – the kinds of applications covered by ICDL. 

Young people have grown up with more onscreen displays and cryptically-labeled buttons than the over-30 crowd, certainly.  But – understandably - they have mastered only those applications that they use – and that interest them.  Unless a young person has had to master professional document creation, or has faced the kinds of problems a math-focused application like a spreadsheet might require, or any of a myriad other situation commonly found business – but not in high school – there is no reason to expect that young person to have even attempted those skills, much less mastered them. 

Stories are rampant about both the highly skilled and the woefully unskilled.  About the lack of what many consider common knowledge – as well as stories about incredibly capable individuals who had skills and knowledge beyond their years.  So what’s new? This has been the case for centuries.  The boys and girls of the AV club spend their free time playing with technology, and are impressive at using the tools. 

But on average, young people – without any special training or attention – have no better facility with the common business applications than any adult who has not been trained.  Both groups – students and workers – need help and training.  ICDL provides both the means and the incentive through the study programs included in the Ohio package, as well as through the certificate and documentation of their achievements – to provide a useful program for young people headed either to higher education or to the workplace.

Ohio’s community colleges, career centers and other community institutions are already supporting programs in this are.  ICDL offers both the users and the program providers a new kind of structure and a new set of worthy goals.

--> Watch for the last installment of this series - Conclusions - and a wrap-up of the 10 Myths about computer skills training in Ohio.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

No. 2 - Myths about computer skills training

What is this series about?  Please click to read the introduction.

Myth #2: “My employees aren’t interested in more education or training.”

Generally speaking, employees value what they perceive their employers value.  If basic skills and continuing education are important to the employer, they will be important to everyone in the organization.  Furthermore, everyone struggles with priorities and costs – and a clear signal from the employer can help immensely in sorting that out. 

Key factors keeping people from higher education are time and money.  If an employer can facilitate even one of those variables, it’s a fair bet that many people would be very interested in enhancing and proving their skills.  If your firm can’t subsidize tuitions, perhaps it would be possible to offer some extended lunch hours, or other “work-day” time when studying or classes could take place. 

Any kind of in-kind assistance will let employees know how important their knowledge base is to the mission of the organization, and to management, and to their careers.

ICDL is a valuable foundation program, but should not be considered a goal unto itself.  It is a milestone not a destination.  Ohio business will benefit from a “continuous education mindset.”

--> Watch for the next in the series: No. 1: “Technology is the young person’s domain these days – If I need more technical skills I just hire younger people – they don’t need training."

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

Honda promotes continuing education at Education Fair

Honda of America Manufacturing (HAM) has established itself as one of Ohio's pre-eminent employers.  Not only because of the size of its employee base, but also because of the attention the corporation pays to employee needs where those large numbers can effect savings or special benefits.

HAM has an extensive program enabling interested employees to take advantage of several different kinds of education opportunities.  Internal training is available online through an extensive library of courses provided by Element K.  And Honda also offers a tuition reimbursement program for employees who want to pursue a degree or other goals via any number of Ohio education institutions.

So how do you let employees know what their options are?  Well, you hold a fair - an "Education Fair."  For several years now, a variety of institutions (including OLN, representing of Ohio higher education at-a-distance) gather to introduce interested workers to their programs and options.  Centrally located in cafeterias in three of HAM's four Ohio plants, employees can explore several dozen exhibiting organizations during breaks, lunch and shift changes. 

I attended the event at the East Liberty plant, and while my particular focus is on computing skills training, it was gratifying to field a wide variety of questions about the Ohio Learns! catalog of thousands of online courses and nearly 200 degrees offered by Ohio schools, and the innovative E4ME program that enables prospective students to get a realistic sample of the college course online experience. 

As one might expect, a lot of people walked by the Fair - on their way to food or home - but those who did stop (numbered in the 100's) are taking the first steps to continuing their own education, or learning about key options for their kids.

An exciting day - and I personally look forward to similar experiences I hope will pop up with other companies, and certainly with Honda again, next year!

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

No. 3 - Myths about computer skills training

What is this series about?  Please click to read the introduction.

Myth #3: “People coming in at ‘entry level’ don’t need a lot of skills – that can wait.”

If you are of a certain age – you may remember what “entry level” used to mean:  someone very new to the business and to the field, who could be minimally productive doing rote or routine tasks while picking up enough specific knowledge to move into more responsible positions. 

Things are typically much different today.  The few rote or routine tasks that are left, are candidates to be automated or outsourced.  Outside of charity hires – “entry level” today requires a new employee to adjust very quickly to the job and its patterns and – even if it is simply monitoring equipment – become capable of making key decisions about pacing of information flow, knowing when to call a supervisor to deal with a problem, often being capable of moving from task to task, filling in where necessary.  In short, “entry level” positions today often require advanced level of technical knowledge and decision-making capability. 

Managers who want their entry level people to be productive quickly, and to have the best shot at moving on and up in the organization, must be vitally concerned that new employees quickly gain a broad and focused knowledge of their technology environment. 

That’s where ICDL plays a key role, with a broad-based perspective on the foundation applications most businesses use to support basic functions.

--> Watch for the next in the series: No. 2: “My employees aren’t interested in more education or training.”

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

DorkbotColumbus - First meeting success!

Dorkbot is a loose international confederation of like-minded people who are fascinated by applications at the edge of technology, art and life. "People doing strange things with electricity."

Columbus has launched a central Ohio chapter, and the first meeting attracted nearly 100 attendees.  The primary presenter of the meeting was Ken Rinaldo, professor of Art & Technology at the Ohio State University, in the Department of Art, describing recent work completed during a sabbatical from OSU, and prior to that time. Ken's most recent work focuses on Autotelematic Spiderbots (click on the "Art" option on the left-most blossom that appears). (Picture credit: Ken Rinaldo, photo by Rich Bowers.)

These man-made "creatures" have sensors to detect their surroundings, built-in reactions to certain events in those surroundings, a need to feed (re-charge), and - collectively - demonstrate something of a meta-level of group-wise behavior.

It is incredibly sophisticated work - and also a great deal of fun.  Which matches the goals of the Columbus group: demonstrations of art, fun & technology. (Picture credit: The Autotelematic Spider Bots 2005 by Ken Rinaldo and Matt Howard. Photo John Marshall)

Notice of Ken's work was taken by the local newspaper as well, appearing on the day before the meeting.  The story covered (registration may be required) many of the basics of Ken's work, as well as some of the challenges of mounting international exhibitions of such sophisticated equipment.

A brief introduction to the Columbus effort by yours truly, highlighted the irony in the name "dorkbot."  Far from being a world of irrelevant, self-absorbed technologists - Dorkbots around the world demonstrate the leading edge of technology and the cusp between man-made machines and bio-mechanics.  Some of the presentations (in the past in other locations, and in Columbus' future) show how fun and the joy of discovery can have serious real-world impact. 

As long as we have the Ray Kurzweils of the world hammering on the approaching "singularity" between man and computer intelligence - we need to keep in mind the implications and the impact of the speculative and even practical applications that merger can have.  Dorkbot represents a balance between science - and science fiction.

Ken Rinaldo's work is on display - in the flesh, so to speak - at the Hopkins Gallery on the OSU campus, during limited hours, until only November 2.

The next meeting of Dorkbot Columbus will also take place on the OSU campus, at Haskett Hall November 30- and will consist of live demonstrations of projects created by Rinaldo's classes during the Fall quarter.  Imagine over 100 "strange things with electricity" all collected in a limited space - it should be quite a party!

If you would like to be included on the DorkbotColumbus email list for notification of upcoming events, simply write to dorkbotcolumbus @ dorkbot.org.  (Remove spaces to activate this email address.)  And - if you have a project - a job - a hobby - or know someone who does - that you would like to see presented at a future DorkbotColumbus meeting - please send it along to the same address.

BTW, Columbus is not alone in joining the Dorkbot brigade!  Dayton has a group - and Cleveland is in the process of getting its own group started as well!  If you live in an area here in Ohio bereft of Dorkbots, check the main Dorkbot site for start-up guidelines, or contact me.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

No. 4 - Myths about computer skills training

What is this series about?  Please click to read the introduction.

Myth #4: “If I spend time and money training my employees, they will just leave.”

No responsible person takes a job lightly.  In a new job, even an experienced employee dedicates a tremendous amount of time to meeting new people, making new acquaintances, learning a physical layout, learning new procedures, getting into the comfortable pattern of life required to regularly attend a job.  All this beyond actually performing the tasks one has been hired to perform. 

Folding an educational and/or training program into that mix simply deepens the employee’s commitment – mentally and emotionally – to the job.  If that education brings additional benefit – pay, position, privilege – the employer should not be concerned about employees’ motives.  Hopping from job to job is painful and exhausting – and a well-treated employee will need to overcome huge personal obstacles before moving to another employer.

In short, if your employees jump because you’ve provided them with training to grow and improve their position – your problems go way beyond the training part of the program.  Time and again, research shows that advanced education and training contribute to employee retention, not the reverse.  ICDL can not only make an operation more productive, but also enhance the commitment of employees.

--> Watch for the next in the series: No. 3: “People coming in at ‘entry level’ don’t need a lot of skills – that can wait.”

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

No. 5 - Myths about computer skills training

What is this series about?  Please click to read the introduction.

Myth #5: “There are certificate programs for everything – there’s no way to tell if this one is any different or worth anything in the end.”

ICDL already has over a million successful completers, with another 5 million in process, and employers and universities in 130 countries have recognized it’s value.  The value of a certificate program structured like ICDL is that it is performance- based – the certification tests have been validated (at a level much like the validations of the SAT and ACT tests used for college admission) independently – and have been found to measure just what they purport to measure.  Furthermore, application is currently under review by the American Council on Education (ACE)  to recommend ICDL for up to 3 hours of college credit.

Everyone who completes the ICDL certificate has crossed the same threshold of knowledge – and now has a known base of knowledge on which specialized training for specific tools and applications can reliably be built.

--> Watch for the next in the series: No. 4: “If I spend time and money training my employees, they will just leave.”

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

No. 6 - Myths about computer skills training

What is this series about?  Please click to read the introduction.

Myth #6: “Security is simply a matter of tighter rules and stricter policies – training in computer skills won’t make a difference.  In fact, the more people know about the computer, the more exposed my organization is.”

In fact, knowledge is a key to security - if your people know where the boundaries of proper behavior are, they can more easily understand how to avoid crossing them, and what the consequences of a transgression can be.  If a computer user doesn’t understand what files are and how they are saved, then valuable work can be lost.  If they don’t know what to look for in a legitimate email – then they may innocently set free a virus throughout your system, or send information inappropriately. 

Security is a concern not only for management – but should be the concern of everyone who uses a computer in your organization.  Computers are powerful tools with ability to make an enterprise a success.  But like most powerful tools, in the hands of the uninformed, a computer can be a prodigious danger. 

ICDL can provide a first line of defense in knowledge about systems and how they should be handled safely and effectively.  With this base of understanding, it is easier to add specific rules or restrictions required for a particular enterprise.

--> Watch for the next in the series: No. 5: “There are certificate programs for everything – there’s no way to tell if this one is any different or worth anything in the end.”

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)

Ohio Girls Discover IT!

Check out the podcast on this event!

One of the highlights of my job is sometimes getting to see the results of the programs and events planned to reach young people – the energy, the curiosity the talent - you see in these kids is inspiring!

We have a massive problem in IT in Ohio and around the country. As a result of all the press over the past few years about out-sourcing and the supposed death of IT careers, kids (and their parents) have not perceived Information Sciences and Technologies as worthwhile fields to explore for their education or career.

The facts are clearly just the opposite – Outsourcing has not become the factor we feared it to be – and as the Boomers retire and IT becomes an ever-increasing aspect of every enterprise on the planet – we’ve got to boost the amount of talent in the education pipeline - to provide the IT creativity and productivity we are going to need desperately in just a few years.

Girls have tremendous opportunity in this field - but they are so often tragically turned off – if not turned away – by scientific and technical fields – when in fact girls bring some of the most desirable assets to those fields.

Being successful in IT is not just a matter of knowing how to write a computer program.  Far from it – to a great degree, IT is rapidly becoming a service industry.  The technical knowledge is necessary – but not sufficient to succeed. Because, in addition to the technology, you need to be able to communicate well, to seek out unspoken or unrecognized needs, to solve problems, to plan many steps ahead and always be on the look-out for unintended consequences. These are skills that – in our culture – girls tend to develop early and on their own – while boys often take longer and more effort. The genders focus on different things in their development:  that’s not bad!  But it also means that there is at least equal need for both sets of world-views and perceptions and skills.

So we’ve got to introduce more girls to the real world of IT – all the facets and connections it can have – and hopefully interest more of them to explore the field and perhaps make it their career. To do this Patti Ross of Edison Community College, and Sara Mazak, IT program coordinator of the Career Technical and Adult Education unit of the Ohio Dept of Education - and itWORKS OHIO – hatched a plan. They decided that merely talking about opportunity – printing brochures and the like – was not enough. They needed to provide an experience that girls could share and think about as they made their plans.

Thus began the "We Are IT" program in Ohio. Patti Ross and Edison hosted the pilot program last Friday.  185 girls attended, plus perhaps 100 support personnel from Edison, presenters of the break-out sessions, lunchtime mentors, participating schools' teachers and chaperons.

Nine other schools will mount similar programs – all on the same day – November 17^th – all across Ohio.  Here's a list of locations and associated Web sites:

• Columbus State Community College (Columbus)  
• Edison Community College (Piqua)(October 6 Pilot)  
• Hocking College (Nelsonville)
• Lakeland Community College (Kirtland)
• North Central State College (Mansfield)
• Owens Community College (Toledo)
• Sinclair Community College (Dayton)
• University of Akron
• University of Cincinnati, Clermont (Batavia) 
• Youngstown State University (Youngstown)

For more informtion about girls/women in IT, and resources for girls/women wanting to explore and advance in IT-related fields, check out the Web site of the Ohio Business Advisory Network for the itWORKS OHIO program.

A report on the November 17th multiple state-wide events will most certainly appear in this blog!

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)