How to Teach Computer Skills

The present method of teaching computer skills in most schools is based on the fact that each person was responsible for most of the functioning, programming and activities of his computer.

Subsequently, hardware was separated from software. This industry progressed to the point that software can now accomplish magnificent tasks, which sometimes requires a great deal of training and/or study in order to know well.

Thus, today’s equivalent of a computer expert is one who knows how to run today’s software and how to understand its hardware.

True, there are different levels of experts. Some program, develop, or maintain hardware or software, but that is now reserved for those who want to be experts in the computer per se, rather than in the practical use of computer applications.

Thus, there are two different kinds of computer specialists today.

1. Those who program, prepare, build, develop, maintain, or otherwise care for computer hardware and software.
2. Users of this technology. This skill is quite advanced and complex, and no less of a study topic than the first category.

Furthermore, the teaching of these skills seems to be divided into the following categories:

• Secretarial, job advancement and administrative training schools, which teach the use of computers
• High schools, which teach programming skills
• Colleges and universities, which teach programming and some skills in the use of certain major applications.
  • The individual departments may present some introductory courses in programs which are related to their subjects.
  • Advanced training programs, for MA degrees may also add the study of programs relevant to the preparation of a thesis, such as statistical programs.

The system seems to make sense, but let’s see if it really meets the needs of all of the graduates.

Many students who graduate high school want to work in an office. Will they have the necessary skills? Probably not. They will have to go to a training program, even after they complete the sequence of studies.

Students who study computers in schools be able to use the computer. This would be consistent with studies of other disciplines. For example:

Chemistry majors should be able to apply their studies to daily life. Those skills will be useful for his/her needs in studying cooking, working in certain offices or laboratories and so on.

Those user skills should be acquired in high school. They should give the graduate the basis for functioning without additional training. Of course, he may want to increase or enhance those skills, but he should have the basics. If chemistry becomes his life’s endeavor, then he can continue. He should have the requisite start in life.

Will computer graduates have the equivalent training when they leave high school? No.

If they leave after elementary school, they will know some games. If they are in an accelerated program, they will know some programming. However, they will not know how to use any standard appplications. They will know only the basics of how to use a word processor (and probably they won’t even know touch typing). They will not know how to organize a collection, and They may not know how to track appointments.

Nor will the situation change in high school.