COMPUTER LITERACY COMPUTER LITERACY FOR TEACHERFOR TEACHER

Marta Oños Marta Oños

Irma AspeIrma Aspe

The programming issueThe programming issue

LITERACY: involves reading and writing. LITERACY: involves reading and writing. Some writers equate computer Some writers equate computer programming with literacy, others see programming with literacy, others see reading and writing programs as only one reading and writing programs as only one part of the concept.part of the concept.The Association of Computing Machinery The Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) in an aim to underline the need of (ACM) in an aim to underline the need of computing in schools, developed a set of computing in schools, developed a set of competencies for teacherscompetencies for teachers

ACM’s SET OF COMPETENCIESACM’s SET OF COMPETENCIES

Read and write simple Read and write simple computer programscomputer programs

Use educational Use educational computer programs and computer programs and documentationdocumentation

Use hardware Use hardware terminologyterminology

Recognize the limits of Recognize the limits of solving educational solving educational problems using the problems using the computer.computer.

Locate information on Locate information on computing in educationcomputing in education

Discuss the historical Discuss the historical development of computer development of computer technology for educationtechnology for education

Discuss the moral and Discuss the moral and human impact issues human impact issues relating to societal and relating to societal and educational use of educational use of computers.computers.

Competencies for computer-literate Competencies for computer-literate teachersteachers

Individuals and groups have proposed Individuals and groups have proposed various computer literacy goals for various computer literacy goals for teachers.teachers.Rawitsch oulined six major goals:Rawitsch oulined six major goals: Operating computersOperating computers Using computer applicationUsing computer application Integrating applications into curriculaIntegrating applications into curricula Evaluating applicationsEvaluating applications Designing new applicationsDesigning new applications Programming computers Programming computers

Concern over defining and teaching computer literacy has Concern over defining and teaching computer literacy has led North Carolina (1983) to develop a State Plan for led North Carolina (1983) to develop a State Plan for Computer Utilization in North Carolina Public Schools.Computer Utilization in North Carolina Public Schools.

Despite the lack of consensus on the nature of teacher Despite the lack of consensus on the nature of teacher computer literacy, educators have produced definitions computer literacy, educators have produced definitions through program development.through program development.

Computer literacy is included in the programs of teacher Computer literacy is included in the programs of teacher training institutions such as:training institutions such as:- Arizona State University- Arizona State University- Columbia University Teacher’s College- Columbia University Teacher’s College- Stanford University - Stanford University - Others- Others

Differing teacher needsDiffering teacher needs

Individual teacher requires specific computerIndividual teacher requires specific computercompetencies:competencies:

Teachers who teach computing or computer literacyTeachers who teach computing or computer literacyTeacher who only use a computer in their teaching.Teacher who only use a computer in their teaching.Teachers who neither use nor teach about computerTeachers who neither use nor teach about computer

Computer literacy confounds two ideas:Computer literacy confounds two ideas:

The computer has a classroom toolThe computer has a classroom toolThe computer as a subject of instruction: is becoming The computer as a subject of instruction: is becoming increasingly importantincreasingly important

In the classroom a computer may serve a teacher as:In the classroom a computer may serve a teacher as:

A medium of instruction:A medium of instruction: CAI (computer Assisted CAI (computer Assisted Instruction), the use of computer to present drill, practice Instruction), the use of computer to present drill, practice exercises, tutorial and simulation to the student. exercises, tutorial and simulation to the student.

For managing instructionFor managing instruction:: gradebook, diagnostic testing, gradebook, diagnostic testing, lesson prescription and CMI. (Computer managed lesson prescription and CMI. (Computer managed instruction). The CMI is an instructional strategy whereby instruction). The CMI is an instructional strategy whereby the computer is used to provide learning objectives, the computer is used to provide learning objectives, learning resources, and assessment of learner learning resources, and assessment of learner performance. performance.

In various other ways:In various other ways: Producing worksheets, printing Producing worksheets, printing home reports, managing data files, producing tests, and home reports, managing data files, producing tests, and word processing. word processing.

Specific skills and knowledgeSpecific skills and knowledge

The specific skills and knowledge required to The specific skills and knowledge required to make teachers computer literate remain make teachers computer literate remain undefinedundefined . .According to Davis “responsible curriculum According to Davis “responsible curriculum choice must always attend to what knowledge choice must always attend to what knowledge for whom and for what possible usesfor whom and for what possible uses

teachers need specific competencies to teachers need specific competencies to deal with specific classroom situationsdeal with specific classroom situations

Teachers should specify their own Teachers should specify their own computer literacy needs and create their own computer literacy needs and create their own individual computer literacy education individual computer literacy education plans(ICLEPs).plans(ICLEPs).