14 year old Computer Literacy

I was reading the article on D2L “Teaching Internet Literacy Strategies: The Hero Inquiry Project.” In it, the authors quote Eagleton who says, “Navigating the Internet has become an essential literacy task for
today’s middle school students.” They go on to describe a project that teaches students how to choose topics, asking research questions, and do internet searches.

As I read this article, I thought about a conversation I had with my niece who is in 8th grade. She told me she is taking a computer class. I was excited to talk to her about it, thinking of all the things she might be doing and learning about computers and how to use them. Unfortunately, she said the class is boring and she hasn’t learned anything. Now, I know that might not mean much coming from a 13 year old. Lots of things are boring to them. She said, though, that she had the class last year also, and all they did was learn to use the keyboard (which she already knew) and they had to take a “virtual vacation.” She and her partner learned about Australia and made a PowerPoint about it (which she said she already knew).

Even that, I thought, could be interesting and a student could learn a lot about the internet and about PowerPoint. However, it seems her teacher is not very helpful and since she has already finished her project, which she says didn’t take much time or effort, all she does is talk to her friend during the class. She isn’t required to nor does she choose to use that time to explore the computer and all that she can do with it. I find that very disappointing, given what we are learning about the importance of computer literacy and using computers to enhance learning. Here she is in a computer class and even there, the teacher isn’t using the computer to enhance learning. It seems ironic. And it’s a pity.