Evelyn Stiller and Cathie Le Blanc Department of
Evelyn Stiller and Cathie Le. Blanc Department of Computer Science and Technology Plymouth State University
Traditional Computer Literacy Courses Address • Basic office applications like: – – – • Word processing Spreadsheets Presentation software Computer concepts like: – – – Hardware Networks Digital representation File management Social/ethical issues
Motivation to Change Computer Literacy • Lack of excitement • Computer literacy changes as society changes • Better ways exist to get students involved with technology • We are losing majors
Social Changes Influencing our Notion of Computer Literacy • Internet as major information source • Serious online dangers, often leading to identity theft • New modes of communication – e. g. , Blogging • Importance of non-verbal communication
Problems with Computer Literacy • Excessive focus on terminology, especially that involving hardware • Concepts not connected to students’ lives • Many students use technology already, so let’s address their interests
What Students are Interested in • Communicating! – User friendly technology – Huge participation – blogging, chat, face book, etc. – Requires awareness of social/ethical issues
Cyber-Literacy Involves Using the Internet to: • • • Inform oneself Express oneself Discuss associated social and ethical issues Explore possible dangers Emphasize the importance of privacy Investigate expressions from a diverse populace “… a set of concepts and critical views with which to understand today’s Internet” – Laura Gurak
Our Approach to Cyber-Literacy • Internet-focused course • Explores the creation of webpresentable media • Looks at web content critically • Helps students express themselves through a variety of media
Content Covered in Traditional Courses Not Addressed in Cyber-Literacy • Word processing (if it is still covered) • Hardware, though memory/cache/ hard disk concepts can be addressed • Spreadsheets • Presentation software
Content Covered in Traditional Courses Also Addressed in Cyber-Literacy • • • File system/ file navigation concepts Internet concepts: email, web pages, etc. Digital representation Malicious software/ dangers of Internet Social issues especially privacy, netiquette, intellectual property, virtual communities, and accessibility
Content Covered in Cyber-Literacy but not Covered in (most) Traditional Courses • • Critical literacy Web site design Blogging Image creation/editing • Sound creation/editing • Animation • Video editing • Alternatives to copyright
What is Critical Literacy? Barbara Warnick describes critical literacy as a focus on making what is hidden or not apparent in communications visible.
Other Philosophical Differences in Cyber-Literacy • Student focused course • Students: – Determine content for each assignment – Engage in creative thinking – Start to develop their voice – Exercise critical thinking skills
How is it Working? • We have offered over 20 sections • Students enjoy expressing themselves • Students enjoy working with powerful tools • Students become computer literate and socially aware • Students are excited about technology • We assessing our success through a survey
Conclusion • • We can’t afford to bore students Let’s use exciting/expressive tools Students need to be aware Let’s create technology enthusiasts
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