ERIC Number: ED214610
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1982-Mar
Pages: 12
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Computer Literacy: The New Mandate for General Education in the 80's.
Poole, Lawrence H.; And Others
In light of recent advances in the field of microcomputers and the general availability of inexpensive means of storing and transmitting information, this paper discusses the potential educational uses of computers and considers the role of computer technology and "technological literacy" in higher education. By way of example, the paper describes the advantages realized by North County Community College (NCCC) through the acquisition of computer resources and outlines the development of their computer laboratory. Next, several possible uses of microcomputers in social science research and instruction are identified, with emphasis given to data analysis software packages, simulations, and word processing possibilities. The paper then illustrates the potential educational benefits of teaching literacy skills with the aid of computers, stressing their greater editing capabilities and ability to store written material; their possible uses for aiding learning disabled students; their use in vocabulary and grammar exercises; and the potential for improving student composition through a change in the context of instruction. After pointing to the ways in which teaching literacy skills through computer-assisted instruction increases students' familiarity with computers, a proposal to make "computer literacy" a requirement for NCCC graduation is outlined. (HB)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A