Re: [school-discuss] a list of necessary topics for college intro to IT

["J. Tim Denny" <johndenny@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael   

There has been quite a bit of work done in various parts of the world to define ICT competency standards...  UNESCO has lead in defining teacher competency standards, yet individual countries are moving forth to define standards expected and assessment methods to meet those levels.  

Recently I have been looking to the Philippines as they suggest that they will soon come up with sets of standards for  4 sectors..  
http://cict-hcdg.wikispaces.com/National+ICT+Competency+Standards

Using international ICT competency standards developed by various recognized bodies, CICT-HCDG is currently working on the following ICT Competency Standards:

1. National ICT Competency Standard - Basic (NICS-Basic) which defines the basic ICT skills for all Filipinos from high school level onwards;
2. National ICT Competency Standard – Advanced (NICS- Advanced) which defines the additional ICT skills of all Filipinos who graduate from college;
3. National ICT Competency Standard for Teachers (NICS-Teachers) which defines the ICT skills needed by teachers in basic and higher education; and
4. National ICT Competency Standard for Civil Servants (NICS-CS) which defines the basic knowledge and skills of ICT Specialists (Systems Analyst, Computer Programmer, Network Administrator, Database Administrator, Web Specialist, Telecommunications Engr., etc.) in government.

__________________________________
John "Tim"  Denny, Ph.D.  
   Consultant - International Development, Education  and ICT
   http://www.avuedigitalservices.com/VR/drjtdenny
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 "The diligent farmer plants trees of which he himself will never see the fruit." Cicero (106-43 BCE)

On Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 7:42 PM, Micheal Cooper <cooper.me@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

It would be a good exercise to compile a list of necessary topics for
college intro to IT classes, and such a list would really benefit a
lot of other people.

What do you think should positively be included in an Intro to IT
course for college-age students?

Some suggestions to get us started (please note, I am just
brainstorming at this point):

1. The dangers of posting information online, such as slanderous
comments about others, photos of binge drinking and nudity, bragging
photos of juvenile and reckless vandalism or misbehavior... all of
which will someday be read by a job or college interviewer.
2. How to mount a network share on Mac, Win, and Linux.
3. OpenOffice
4. How to read email suspiciously (don't open attachments, don't click
links, etc.)
5. The importance of keeping a system up-to-date... particularly Windows.
6. Using a spreadsheet to manage information in database-like lists.
7. Power-searching on Google.
8. How to write a subject line on email that will tell the recipient
that the message is not spam.
9. Techniques for detecting phishing.
10. ... <please continue>

--
Micheal Cooper
Miyazaki, Japan (GMT+9, no DST)