A computer literacy mini-course

ABSTRACT

The Computer Consciousness minicourse being taught at Notre Dame's Computing Center began as a response to a growing need noticed by several staff members. Computers today affect everybody's life, and people want to know about them. Many courses in Computer Science and in programming are offered at Notre Dame, both some for credit, and the credit-free mini courses sponsored by the Computing Center. These courses contribute to computer literacy on campus, but they cannot meet the needs of everyone.

There exists a group of people who don't necessarily want to learn programming or even to learn how to use computers. They simply want to know what they are all about. This group may include students in non-technical disciplines who cannot schedule a programming class into their packed curricula. Possibly among these people are faculty or staff members who completed their educations before computers were common. Also included are secretaries who are being asked to give up their typewriters in favor of computers dedicated to word processing. They want to understand the machines. Teenagers who know they will have a head start in college if they understand computing are part of this group. Our Computer Consciousness minicourse is for these people.

Index Terms

• Social and professional topics

  • Professional topics

    • Computing education

      • Computing literacy

      • Model curricula