What is computer literacy?

May 24th, 2006 by Gabriel Bodard

Discussion started in Slashdot today:

By Cliff on where’s-the-on-switch

rbannon asks: “Computer literacy is becoming an increasingly used term in education, and more and more schools are being asked to set computer literacy goals for their students. Unfortunately for too many, it means being able to use Microsoft products, and that’s all. However, I see it much differently, and I cannot help but think that computer literacy is all about using computers to be able to communicate more effectively. With that in mind does anyone have any recommendations for computer literacy goals, and how to measure them?”

The discussion that follows is good, but doesn’t really address the question I would like to ask: what should we define as adequate computer literacy in the context of teaching Digital Humanities at university level? (Teaching all humanities students, not just the Applied Comp specialists…)

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