Currently, the course tends to be a mix of Office apps and basic computer concepts. But several factors are putting pressure on this existing paradigm.
- First, students are acquiring basic Office skills in lower grades.
- Second, handheld devices are likely to replace desktop and laptop computers for many consumer who are simply interested in browsing the Web, e-mail, and social networking; computers may be relegated to primarily to business venues.
If the Introductory Computing course is to evolve into something that is truly relevant for today's students, a fundamental question becomes, "What should every college educated student know about computing?"
It means we have to look around us as identify the kinds of decisions that are being made about technology, not only by consumers, but by politicians, educators, courts, law enforcement, content providers and others. What do we have to know about technology to make sure that it continues to serve us, rather than limit our rights and freedoms.
The week beginning December 5 is Computer Science Education Week. It is a perfect time to discuss the Introductory Computing course curriculum. As a textbook author, I welcome your ideas, and hope that I can contribute to the field by incorporating relevant materials into the books that I develop.
