just toys

To me, these tests seem sort of meaningless. Nobody ever insists upon developing real levels of technical competence: i.e. being able to write programs in real computer languages (HTML doesn’t count). Why can’t schools insist that students demonstrate that they can, say, figure out how to boot Linux on a PS2 or Ipod. Everything else is just playing with toys.

Larry, at 8:55 am EST on January 4, 2007

response to Phil

Phil, If you can’t tell the difference between a rant (anywhere) and a peer-reviewed piece of literature, you don’t belong in college. Colleges should be ashamed to admit these people. But, they sure love to admit them.

Unfortunately, we have given up expecting students to actually understand how technology works, and instead are now blaming “technology” for our failures to actually read on a substantive level and be able to identify and analyze arguments. If colleges would demand and expect that entering students have that level of competence, a knowledge of technology would be something a bit more meaningful than just searching through Google.

Larry, at 10:30 am EST on January 4, 2007

ICT

I appreciate Larry’s comments, though I really disagree with him. “Information and commmunication technology literacy” is about the application of technology to issues of reseach and the normal academic processes of communication. As an example, part of the ICT deals with use of spreadsheets, including interpretation of information. “Real measures of technical competence” that include computer programming are for a much narrower academic program, such as Computer Science. The dream that someday everyone will be able to program in BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, or even C++—let alone “booting Linux on an iPod"—is the dream that everyone will be a computer programmer. Life’s too short: being a “user” is challenging enough, particularly if, as a user, you will actually _do something_ with the tools. One doesn’t have to be a toolmaker to accomplish something useful.

Dean Rich, Bethel University, at 11:05 am EST on January 4, 2007

Testing Basic Literacy

Did you know that Cal State University doesn’t require students to pass any standardized exams in math and english as a condition to receive any degree? There are exams for english and math placement, but no mandatory exams to demonstrate achievment of these basic skills are enforced. Testing for technical literacy makes no sense without first testing for basic english and math literacy, and conducted in a manner to effectively maintain the integrity of the testing process with photo ID checks, video recorded proctoring, and other prudent security measures. With the majority of students failing the placement exams, it makes no sense whatsoever to expect that students have achieved basic skill competency without standardized testing.

David, Cal State Univ, at 3:15 pm EST on January 4, 2007

Low Standards

I find myself somewhat in agreement with Larry here.

Why? Every time I have suggested that we expect people to understand spreadsheets on a deeper level (e.g. writing macros, VBA code, writing queries, or doing basic some basic statistical analysis, I am told that this is too much for students.

I would expect, even for literacy, that students would at least KNOW these things are programmable. And doing queries and statistical analysis using common tools would seem to fall under the Evaluate criteria. The ICT is actually pretty lightweight.

Rob Rittenhouse, CS Faculty at McMurry University, at 3:31 pm EST on January 4, 2007

There seems to be some confusion here between Information and Technology literacy. The Association of College and Research Libraries established guidelines for Information Literacy back in 2000. http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrls...ds/informationliteracycompetency.htm

These guidelines have nothing to do with technical proficiency but with discernment, being able to tell what sources are valid etc... Technical literacy is something we are just beginning to see required. It is now common to require freshmen to have a laptop as well as certain skills. These skills change over time. While it is useful for a student to know a how to use a word processing application it is far more important that they know how to write. Technology is merely a tool and while we may require knowledge of it the same way we once required courses in penmanship it is not an end in itself.

Edward Iglesias, Systems Librarian at CCSU, at 10:20 am EST on January 5, 2007

It’s not about TECHNOLOGY.

It’s not about Technology; it’s about THINKING. When looking at a list of titles in a database hitlist, it’s being able to read those titles thoughtfully enough to make intelligent choices. When looking at citation/abstract information, it’s about reading thoughtfully. It’s understanding what a citation is (this is NOT a technological skill). “Clicking” is so easy. Thinking (and, for many students, the ability to read; which is not exactly the same skill/talent/art as “thinking") is not so easy.

Priscilla Atkins, at 4:55 pm EST on January 9, 2007

Basics

David wrote, “Did you know that Cal State University doesn’t require students to pass any standardized exams in math and english as a condition to receive any degree?”

I can tell since David didn’t capitalize English.

I agree with Betsy. We must try to educate everyone we can, wherever we find them. Students need the basics as well as instruction in the effective use of technology.

Pam

Pam, Adjunct Professor at Concord Univeristy, at 10:50 am EST on January 13, 2007

The Future

In my opinion, computer literacy is a key component in advancement in work and school. Understanding the application of navigation through the web and professional documents makes life, school, and work simpler. Everything is becoming computer base. Equipping the youth for the future is the objective for any school. By implementing the technology literacy test, it would later help future employers and future college student succeed with ease and only worry about on the job/school training techniques.

Dena, Student at VCU, at 11:11 am EST on January 23, 2007