Two years of “The Digital World”: portable courseware for technological literacy

ABSTRACT

We report here our cumulative 2-year experience with the “The Digtal World”, a course designed to increase the technological literacy of non-science students. The course relies heavily on computer-aided instruction, including the extensive use of electronic lectures and multimedia. Students were able to acquire a surprising level of sophistication by working with examples of digital technology chosen from their daily lives. Students were also able to identify weaknesses in areas of current technology and public policy similar to those identified by experts.We describe our successes and failures, and present cumulative data on performance, by major, class, and gender. All courseware and applications for “The Digital World” are available from the author.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.1 Computer Uses in Education
          Subjects: Computer-assisted instruction (CAI)
      K.3.m Miscellaneous
          Subjects: Computer literacy**

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors