bmandell@ucqais.uc.edu (Bob Mandell) (12/19/89)
A question on Computer Literacy...
This a subject which has troubled me for some time...
Are we a society bound to simplicity.... where computer literacy
will simply mean having the mundane knowledge to point and click... Or are
we ready to finely sit back and lay down the rules of computer literacy.
... The rules of literacy... Now here is the real question....
What are the rules of literacy... How can we teach when we ourselves don't
even know what constitutes computer literacy... How much or how little
must one know to survive in the world today? How much should we teach to
the business student who has no intentions of ever becomming a programer?
But before you answer the preceeding question, keep in mind that the programmer
needs a basic understanding of the business for which he programs. Likewise,
the business man must have basic knowledge of a computers workings.
Will the knowledge of knowing how to use software, like spreadsheets, word
processing, etc, be enough? I don't think so....
So the question is where do we draw the line....
When do we say "yes, you are computer literate because..."???
Because the computer has become such an integrated part of all our
lives, this issue needs an answer now! Should we keep the end users "pointing
and clicking", or should we educate them to our "electronic magic" and
elevate them, the computer, and ourselves in the process?
Rob Mandell
University of Cincinnati
Student of Information Systemsariel@bimacs.BITNET (Ariel J. Frank) (02/27/90)
Hello edu land.
I have a simple question :-). What is Computer Literacy? Any
university teaching/practicing it? Any info/thoughts/courses/experiences
will be appreciated. Please E-mail and I will summerize.
Thanks in advance, Ariel.
--
Ariel J. Frank
Deputy Chairperson, Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science
Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel 52100
Tel: (972-3-) 5318407/8, Fax: (972-3-) 344766
BITNET: ariel@bimacs (also F68388@barilan)
INTERNET: ariel@bimacs.biu.ac.il
ARPA: ariel%bimacs.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu
CSNET: ariel%bimacs.bitnet%cunyvm.cuny.edu@csnet-relay
UUCP: ...uunet!mcvax!humus!bimacs!arielroy@ms.uky.edu (Kill Roy) (02/28/90)
>I have a simple question :-). What is Computer Literacy? Any
Here are a few very basic things I have noticed. Some only
apply to older people (i.e., those who haven't grown up
with computers). I'm sure anyone could elaborate, especially
since I haven't even touched communications.
Incidently, I don't think a person must be able to type in
order to use a computer. I don't think they need to know
a programming language either. These skills do help, but I
believe they are secondary.
1. Knowing that computers AREN'T magic boxes that can't be
fathomed and possibly have minds of their own.
They can be understood. They are useful tools which
are not difficult to learn. There are no such things
as computer geniuses.
2. Knowing that computers ARE machines, and like automobiles
and other machines we use every day, their effectiveness
depends largely on the skill of the operator.
One has to invest time in learning how to use a computer
before any benefits can be realized. Considering the effort
needed to master a (1) Can-opener, (2) Automobile, and
(3) Computer, it is evident that the extension of abilities
is augmented at the expense of greater time invested in
orientation, training, etc.
3. Understanding that work done on a computer is important
and must be protected.
People should equate the phrase "I don't need backups."
with the request "KICK ME, PLEASE".
They should also be willing to trust their work to
a computer, provided adequate data-protection is practiced.
4. Understanding that managing information is a computer's
forte, but this ability can only be applied if the
operator is capable of abstractly organizing information.
People must know how to use files and directories to
their advantage. They must also understand the
relationships between the CPU, RAM, Hard Disk, and
other peripherals, so they can better use the computer
to manipulate information.
--
email roy@ms.uky.edu || roy@ukma.bitnet || {rutgers,uunet}!ukma!roy
snail Roy Vignes, Faculty Scholars Program, 110 Maxwelton Court,
Lexington, KY 40506-0347 ph. (606) 257-3746max@Neon.Stanford.EDU (Max Hailperin) (02/28/90)
You might want to look at an article by Carolynn Van Dyke entitled "Taking `computer literacy' literally" in the May 1987 Communications of the ACM, pp. 366-374 [May '87 = Vol. 30, No. 5]. It presents a non-standard but interesting interpretation for computer literacy.