E-ducation: Mandatory Computer Literacy

It has come to my attention that there is some school of thought that forcing students to have web-interactions as part of traditional coursework might not be a 100% good idea. That it might be discriminatory toward students who are not yet computer literate. (yet!) That they will be at a tremendous disadvantage and institutions should retain non-computer heavy sections to accommodate these students.

This line of thinking is completely backwards. Look. When I was in high school we use to say things like “someday all the banks will run on computers”, “someday you’ll be able to look for a library book on a computer”, “someday we’ll drive flying cars”. Ok, we never got the flying cars (yet!) but for the most part this is “someday.” Computers are everywhere. I mean they turn up in the most unlikely places. They have become essential to basically every industry and I can almost guarantee there is going to be a computer wherever they go next.

Could we provide a student with a path through college without ever having to learn computer basics and how to navigate the web? Sure we could, but you know what? I wouldn’t want my name on that diploma. Using a computer has become an essential type of literacy. It is a basic skill.

We are a college. People come to us to learn about stuff. That’s why it’s the perfect time to make sure the people that leave us are learning all the important things they need to be able to get a job and be successful. Everyone needs to know how to use a computer. We’re a safe place with people who are paid to help you learn. It’s a perfect fit. Why would we possibly let people get out of our doors without learning how to use a computer? Is it better for a student to get to a job and try to learn it all at once with potentially no one to help them?

Why would anyone do that?

Tags: computer literacy, edblog, edtech