The Relevance of College Computer Literacy in the New Age Presented by Ken Baldauf

The Relevance of College Computer Literacy in the New Age

Presented by

Ken Baldauf

The New Age

Processing

•Supercomputing

• BlueGene/L 478.2 teraflopsTera = trillion (1,000,000,000,000)

• Petaflop by 2011 from IBM/CrayPeta = Quadrillion (1,000,000,000,000,000)

• Sania and Oakridge National Labs working on “Exascale” computer.

Exa = Quintiliion (1,000,000,000,000,000,000)

ProcessingThe computational capacity of the human brain is estimated to be around 100 Petaflops - achievable in supercomputers by the end of this decade and personal computers by 2020.

At the end of 2006, the Blue Brain project had created a

model of the basic functional unit of the brain, the neocortical column. At the push of a button,

the model could reconstruct biologically accurate neurons

based on detailed experimental data, and automatically connect

them in a biological manner, a task that involves positioning around 30 million synapses in

precise 3D locations.

Processing

Kurzweil’s SingularityThe Singularity is an era in which our intelligence will become increasingly nonbiological and trillions of times more powerful than it is today—the dawning of a new civilization that will enable us to transcend our biological limitations and amplify our creativity.

20452045

Processing

In the mean time, processing power is being harnessed for:•Scientific discovery

•Competitive advantage in business

•3D virtual environments utilized for fun and work

•Creative endeavors

•Communication and information management

Storage

• Personal computer storage is surpassing the TB hurdle. The TB Notebook PC from Asus

• New technologies such as phase-change memory, holographic storage, molecular memory, 3D flash memory, will double, triple, quadruple memory capacity over the next few years.

Storage

Microsoft and Google are racing to build the largest data centers ranging in size up to 68,000 square feet, to serve up hundreds of petabytes of information.

Networking

3.5G and 4G Wireless Networks will provide access to communications, information, and media at increasing data rates.

Sprint Xohm (2-4 MB) is launching in Chicago, Baltimore and Washington D.C. in spring 2008, with more cities following soon.

Put it all together and what do you get?

• Super smart computers, delivering information, media, services, and communications, anywhere anytime at the speed of light: Cloud Computing

• A technology drenched society, where technology is pervasive and ubiquitous.

• A culture that utilizes technologies in an exponentially increasing manner to accomplish more in less time.

Is computer and IT fluency important for our students?

Are our students already fluent?

Workplace and Academic Tech Demands

Workplace Demands

• In Friedman’s “The World is Flat” the point is strongly made that for the US to maintain leadership in the global economy, it needs to do so through technological innovation.

Workplace Demands

Business Activity

Associated Technology Skill

Communication Cellphone, Email, text messaging, chat, blogging, Web 2.0, tele-conferencing, Web conferencing, VoIP, PowerPoint, Web dev

Workplace Demands

Business Activity



Collaboration Communication + groupware, document sharing, Internet and network skills

Workplace Demands

Business Activity




Research Web: scholarly publications, news publications and journals, public knowledge and opinion, access to experts.

Workplace Demands

Business Activity





Personal Information Management

Calendar/schedule management, contacts, to-do lists, single-user and multi-user

Workplace Demands

Business Activity







Business Information/Knowledge Management

transaction processing systems, management information systems, decision support systems, knowledge management systems, database management systems, business intelligence, geographic information system, enterprise resource planning

Workplace Demands

Business Activity









Project Management Microsoft Project, OpenProj, Mind Mapping tools like MindJet

Workplace Demands

Business Activity









Project Management Microsoft Project, OPenProj, Mind Mapping tools like MindJet

General-purpose productivity

Word processing, spreadsheet, graphics

Workplace Demands

Business Activity









Project Management Microsoft Project, OPenProj, Mind Mapping tools like MindJet

General-purpose productivity

Word processing, spreadsheet, graphics

Business-specific Wide variety

Academic Demands = Workplace Demands

By providing students with computer fluency in their freshman year, students will be able to use those skills throughout their academic career. Teachers can then apply technology skills to subject area projects.

Incoming Student’sCommand of Technology

Traditional students are certainly technology savvy, but do they have valued workforce skills?

K-12 Standards

• “Primary school teachers do not formally assess students’ technology proficiency, or students’ use of technology to learn and communicate information [“Technology in Alabama School,” 2006 Report].

• “Indicators for measuring progress in advancing classroom technology (IMPACT) 2007-2012” mentions 12th grade technology examination requirement for graduation.

• National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) is backed by NCLB and is the goal of most states.

K-12 Standards

If and when K - 12 provides consistent computer literacy, even computer fluency, does that negate the need for information technology education between high school and professional life?

Consider college Liberal Studies requirements: Math, English Composition, History/Social Science, Humanities, Fine Arts, Natural Science.

Consider non-traditional students.

Student Surveyhttp://service.cs.fsu.edu/survey.html

• Web research: searching and finding credible and useful academic information on the Web

• Digital communications: using email, instant messaging, texting, and cell phone

• Word processing: creating and editing documents with software like Microsoft Word

• Spreadsheet: manipulating and analyzing numeric data with software like Microsoft Excel

• Database management: storing, editing, sorting, filtering, and querying data with software like Microsoft Access

• Presentation software: creating and editing electronic slideshows with transition and animated effects on grouped and ungrouped objects with software like Microsoft PowerPoint.

• Online social networks: using online community and collaborative environments like Myspace and Facebook.

• Media sharing sites: using online photo and video sharing sites like youtube and flickr.

• Online publishing and broadcasting: subscribing to and contributing to podcasts and blogs

• Web design: creating Web sites and Web pages using HTML, XHTML, CSS, and software like Dreamweaver.

• Digital technologies: your understanding of the underlying principles of digital electronics hardware, software, and computer networks, such as processors, storage technolgies, packet switched networks, etc.

• Business information systems: understanding fundamental business systems such as transaction processing systems (TPS), management information systems (MIS), decision support systems (DSS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, etc.

• Information security: understanding hackers, identity theft, computer viruses, spyware, botnets, phishing scams and how to protect yourself from these threats

• Digital Photography and Graphics: taking digital photographs, editing digital photographs, and creating digital drawings and designs with software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

• Personal information management: utilizing software that assists in organizing your life with to-do lists, calendars, and address books using software like Microsoft Outlook.

• Online Group Collaboration: utilizing discussion boards, shared documents, and other online tools to work on a project with others as a group.

Student's Perception of Skill and Value

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

Web ResearchDigital Comm.

Word

SpreadsheetDatabase

PPT

Social Net'sMedia Sharing

Blogs

Digial Tech.Business Sys.Info SecurityDigital PhotoWeb Design

PIM

Groupware

Skill

Value

Points of Interest• Students recognize the value of technology!• Largest Gaps: Spreadsheet, Database, PPT, Digital Tech Concepts, Info Security,

Web Design, Personal Information Management, Groupware• Low Points: Database, Blogs, Digital Technology, Business Systems, Info

Security, Web Design, Groupware

Students Who Feel They Have Little or No Skill

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%


Word

SpreadsheetDatabase

PPT


Blogs


PIM

Groupware

Points of Interest• For every skill, 4 - 9 percent of the students feel they no nothing or next to nothing.

Points of Interest• Popular skills have the most know-it-alls• No one feels they know it all when it comes to business systems

Students Who Think They Know It All

0.00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0.20


Word

SpreadsheetDatabase

PPT


Blogs


PIM

Groupware

Points of Interest• Overall FSU and Alabama students responded similarly regarding their skills.• Alabama ranked themselves higher in Database, Business Systems, and PIM• FSU ranked themselves much higher in Social Nets and Media Sharing• Not shown here is that fewer than one percent of FSU students admitted knowing

nothing of next to nothing about any area. Four - nine percent for Alabama students.

Difference between FSU and Alabama Community Colleges

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40


Word

SpreadsheetDatabase

PPT


Blogs


PIM

Groupware

Teacher’s Impressions

•Nothing surprising in these results to me. How about you?

Bridging the Gap

At FSUFrom Literacy to Fluency

• Digital Media• Digital Music and Audio• Digital Graphics• Digital Photography and Video• Interactive Media

• Information Security• Information Security and Vulnerability• Machine-Level Security• Network Security• Wireless Network Security• Internet Security

• Digital Society, Ethics, and Globalization• Living Online• Freedom of Speech• Privacy Issues• Ethics and Social Responsibility• Globalization

CONCEPTS TO BE TAUGHT

• Digital Technology Basics• The Digital Revolution• General Purpose and Special Purpose

Computers• Hardware: Processing, Storage, and I/O• Software: System Software and Application

Software• Network Technologies

• Telecommunications: Wired and Wireless Technologies

• Computer Networking• The Internet and Web

• Management Information Systems• Databases• E-commerce• Business Systems• Systems Development

Required• Operating Systems and File Management

• Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, or Linux• Personal Information Management (PIM)

• Contacts, Calendars, and To-Do's• Internet Communications

• Email, Instant Messaging, SMS Texting, Online Forums• Word Processing

• Any advanced word-processing application that can save to Microsoft Word format• Spreadsheet Management

• Any advanced spreadsheet application that can save to Microsoft Excel format• Team Project

• Work as a group to apply the above skills to design a solution to a professional problem

Student Choice 1 (choose one)• Presentation Software• Microsoft Access• Project Management/Mind Mapping• Digital Photography and Photo Editing

Student Choice 2 (choose one)• Digital Media Production (video, audio)• Web 2.0 and Rich Internet Applications (social networking, social bookmarking, wikis, media sharing,

Google Docs, etc.)• Web publishing (Web site, Blog, Podcast, or Vodcast)

At FSUFrom Literacy to Fluency

PLATFORM INDEPENDENT SKILLS TO BE TAUGHT

FSU’s New Program for Interdisciplinary Computing (PIC)

• Providing computer and technology courses that service all degree programs.

• Computer Fluency, Web Development, and intro programming courses designed fo non-tech majors.

• Injecting technology into all areas of study.

Thank You!

Ken BaldaufFlorida State University

Center for Interdisciplinary [email protected]

www.teachtechnology.biz

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The Relevance of College Computer Literacy in the New Age Presented by Ken Baldauf