1. Fluency with Information Technology: an Introduction CMPT 109 Montclair State University

2. Why fluency? Traditional computer literacy emphasized immediately useful skills, like using a word processor or a web browser. Fluency with Information Technology (FITness) includes literacy, but also comprises concepts and capabilities that will (we hope) help you deal with changes in technology throughout your life.

3. What is FITness? Skills means proficiency with current applications, for example e-mail, word processors, web browsers, spreadsheets, and databases. As applications change, the necessary skills also change. –New applications –New versions of existing applications

4. What is FITness? (2) Concepts refers to fundamental knowledge underlying information technology. Examples include the following: –How computers work –How information is represented internally –How information is transmitted over a computer network Concepts change more slowly than skills.

5. What is fluency? (3) Capabilities refers to the higher-level thinking abilities needed to use a computer effectively. Here are some examples: –Troubleshooting an operating-system problem –Organizing a research report using a word processor. –Setting up a spreadsheet to perform a what-if calculation. Concepts and skills are necessary but not sufficient conditions for using IT effectively. One also needs higher-level capabilities.

6. FITness in CMPT 109 (examples) Computer hardwareOperating systems SkillsAvoiding loss of information Launching programs ConceptsMajor hardware components Functions of an operating system CapabilitiesTroubleshooting problems Organizing a file system

7. FITness in CMPT 109 (2) Web BrowsingWord Processing SkillsNavigating hypertext links Formatting text in a document ConceptsPacket-switched networks. Protocols (TCP/IP) Internal representation of document CapabilitiesFinding/evaluating information on the WWW Preparing a research report

8. FITness in CMPT 109 (3) SpreadsheetsDatabases SkillsEntering data and formulas Creating a database table ConceptsAbsolute and relative cell references Relations between tables CapabilitiesConstructing a model for a what-if calculation Structural modeling of a real-world system