December 2, 1998

To: Prof. Karen Paley
From: Keith D. Tyler
Re: Computer literacy issues

Prof. Paley,

Today's professional world is becoming more computer-dependent. As a result, the need for job-minded college students to gain quality computer skills is imperative. Unfortunately, the majority of current programs designed to impart these skills within non-computer oriented majors are not sufficiently preparing their students with the right skills and perspectives that will allow them to use the computer proficiently in their futures.

My report will investigate the problems that I and other researchers see in the current trends in computer literacy education. This will likely focus on suggesting changes in the curricula of such courses, ranging from changing the teaching method to improve student perspectives, as well as altering the arrangement and importance of elements of their material. Likely, other extraneous problems with these courses will be touched upon.

This paper will be intended for the computer education community at large, but specifically those educators who are involved in teaching and/or developing computer literacy curricula at their colleges or universities. Since I will be advocating a significant revisitation of these curricula in terms of structure, method, and resources, these people would be in the best position to invite a review of their curricula.

KDT