tami@canisius.UUCP (Dr. Tami Crawford) (11/01/90)
Does anyone know of a good text for a computer literacy course? We are currently using "Concepts" by William S. Davis along with the AppleWorks tutorials. Next semester we are moving to a MacIntosh based lab. We are looking for a general concepts book for non-computer people which is not too technical. The book we are using is rather dry and the students don't seem to be getting anything out of it. I'm interested in any recommendations and comments on any books for teaching computer literacy. thanks, tami@klaatu.cs.canisius.edu Tami L. Crawford Computer Science Dept. Canisius College 2001 Main St Buffalo, NY 14208
dab@Oswego.EDU (David Alan Bozak) (11/03/90)
In article <2978@canisius.UUCP> tami@canisius.UUCP (Dr. Tami Crawford) writes: > >Does anyone know of a good text for a computer literacy course? >We are currently using "Concepts" by William S. Davis along >with the AppleWorks tutorials. Next semester we are moving to >a MacIntosh based lab. We are looking for a general concepts >book for non-computer people which is not too technical. >The book we are using is rather dry and the students don't >seem to be getting anything out of it. > >I'm interested in any recommendations and comments on any >books for teaching computer literacy. > >thanks, > >tami@klaatu.cs.canisius.edu > >Tami L. Crawford >Computer Science Dept. >Canisius College >2001 Main St >Buffalo, NY 14208 I am currently teaching a test section of a new course, to replace our traditional "computer literacy" course. The traditional course is titled "Survey of Computing" and uses West Publishing text by Mandell, "Computers and Information Processing", 5th edition (we have been using this text for several editions). The course covers history, bits and bytes, hardware, software, BASIC programming, applications, crime, etc. Students are given several assignments including using e-mail, using WordPerfect, VP-Planner :-), VP-Expert, dBase, and VAX BASIC. The new section is called "Computing Tools" and uses a text by Don Beil, "The Student Edition of FRAMEWORK II" (Addison-Wesley). Framework is an integrated package - word processor, spreadsheet and database. The point of the course is to discuss these applications and the integration of the results of using these applications in the solving of problems of various types. The Beil text does just that, and is not simply a 'how to use Framework' type of text. Since we need words to process, data to spreadsheet (what an ugly verb) and records to store and retrieve, and so the other aspect of the course is a hefty dose of telecommunications/e-mail/USENET news, computers and their impact on society, computer crime, viruses/worms/etc., ergonomics, and such stuff (Hey! wasn't that neat timing to have NOVA show the program on Cliff Stoll's excitement - right after my students had become proficient in using e-mail and understanding what networks are all about!). So, the course is still under development - I'm trying things out as we go and depending upon how the class handles things. While Framework is PC based, there is no reason why such a course couldn't be based on a product like Microsoft Works, and use both PC and Mac platforms. Though, I must admit, Framework is pretty impressive - even stripped down. They boot the program on one floppy, swap in a second floppy containing all overlays, context sensitive help screens and the like, and never need to swap disks unless they need to access the spell checker's dictionary. All three functions, integrated and windowed, in 384K... So, I guess a recommendation depends upon the goals you have for the course. Here, I expect students to become proficient with this package. Oh yeah, I'm also doing this in a class of size 98. Perhaps (boy I hesitate to invite this) we can have a discussion in this group over just what a "literacy" course is supposed to be. In my opinion, what we are trying to do is the next reasonable approach - make kids intelligent users of powerful tools when they are freshmen, and they can use those tools in problem solving activities throughout their academic career, and of course, beyond. We are looking at a second course, where we spend a lot of time on things like modeling and simulation, using POINT FIVE - really neat software, with VERY low site licensing costs. (Pacific Crest Software, Inc., Dan Apple is the president, I don't have a full reference at the moment...if there is interest, I'll dig it up - if anyone else knows details and can provide them, great). -dab /\ David Alan Bozak, Computer Science Department / \ SUNY College at Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126 (315) 341-2347 _____/____\_____ Internet: dab@rocky.oswego.edu / / \ \ or dab%rocky.oswego.edu@nisc.nyser.net /____/ \____\ UUCP: {cornell!devvax,rutgers!sunybcs}!oswego!rocky!dab
swsh@ellis.uchicago.edu (Janet M. Swisher) (11/03/90)
In article <1990Nov2.204417.8039@oswego.Oswego.EDU> dab@oswego.Oswego.EDU (David Alan Bozak) writes: >I am currently teaching a test section of a new course, to replace >our traditional "computer literacy" course. >The new section is called "Computing Tools" and uses a text by Don Beil, >"The Student Edition of FRAMEWORK II" (Addison-Wesley). Framework >is an integrated package - word processor, spreadsheet and database. >While Framework is PC based, there is no reason why such a course >couldn't be based on a product like Microsoft Works, and use both >PC and Mac platforms. Actually, Addison-Wesley has a whole line of "Student Editions" of major software packages, for both Mac and DOS. I haven't used them, but I've read Addison-Wesley's propaganda for them, though I don't have it handy at the moment. The students get a fully-functional version of the program, though I guess they're limited in some way. The editions are intended, I think, for instructors who need to use software in a class, while teaching content that the software is useful for (e.g., CAD or CAE software for a drafting or engineering class). The instructor gets the standard edition of the package, and instructional materials. -- Janet Swisher Internet: swsh@midway.uchicago.edu University of Chicago Phone: (312) 702-7608 Academic and Public Computing P-mail: 1155 E. 60th St. Chicago IL 60637, USA "Heaven is a large and interesting place, sir." -- Dale Cooper