Computer Literacy is Literacy
Are computer classes mandatory at your school? Are students required to take computer classes in order to be promoted or to graduate? If a computer class is not required, should it be?
I’ve taught in a few schools including student teaching. None had computer science as a graduation requirement. At best, computer science is only recommended.
I haven’t gotten the most encouraging responses when I’ve recommended that all students should be required to take some type of computer class before graduating high school, which would cover hardware, software, processes, the Internet, general usage and skills.
What usually happens when I recommend that a computer class be a requirement is that teachers or administrators say that students are more proficient with computers than they are. Students already know how to use computers well enough to cover daily usage. It would be redundant for them to have to take a computer science class.
My answer to that point would be to give them the option of testing out of it. Why not make computer science a requirement for graduation, and if it’s the case that students are already proficient, let them test out of the class and graduate.
My concern is for those students who are not proficient, who do not have a computer at home, who do not have the basic skills required to communicate, find a job, apply for a job, and find a university and apply to that university. The computer science graduation requirement would fill in the gap for those students–they would not slip through our fingers.
If you knew a student was illiterate would you quietly promote or graduate her?
Schools have requirements and tests in place to ensure that illiterate students get the necessary help that they need. Shouldn’t schools do the same for the computer illiterate? Can schools, in good conscience, send a student into the big bad world without basic computer skills?
Computer literacy is literacy.
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I totally agree with you! I Las Vegas, NV Computer Literacy is a required course in Middle School and it counts for High School credit. I teach students the basics but I use the Web 2.0 tools available so they have 24/7 access and so they are able to easily use them in their other classes. Please feel free to review my website to see what I do and what 11 year olds can do with the proper teaching.
@Art,
Awesome site! Your students will thank you for the rest of their lives with all that you’re having them accomplish and learn. I love the Internet safety project you have them do as well. Keep up the good work out there in LV.
Many students it seems are good at using a select few sites and/or programs that they visit on a daily basis which usually are limited to social networking ones. Technology and computing skills and literacy extend much more beyond simply knowing how to use a site, all that shows is that they can read and press a button. A good indicator of knowledge and literacy is their ability to problem solve the technology.
@bez imena,
Problem solving is an important factor in technology. Can students fix problems such as a hard drive crash? What are their offline options when the Internet is down? Can they come up with alternative uses for a program that the creators didn’t intend? With problem solving written into a curriculum we will spark technological innovation.
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