Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
BACKGROUND
Three full-time faculty members teach most of the general education computer literacy
courses in the College of Business and Economics have had a long-term goal of requiring all
students to demonstrate a basic proficiency in the major business software applications:
word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. These instructors have long
known that students think they know more about the computer than they really do. Professors
in other courses assume students know basic computer use, and employers expect graduates
to possess basic computer skills.
A pilot project was performed in 1999 with a small group of approximately 35 students
in the College of Applied Science and Technology. Software assessment tests were created
specifically for this purpose and were individually graded. Students self-evaluated their skill
levels before taking the exams. The results indicated that students generally overestimated
their knowledge of the various software programs.
The result of this small study encouraged the campus director of assessment, the
director of educational development, and the computer information systems faculty to talk
to the university administration about implementing an institutional requirement that all
students graduating from the university must show a basic proficiency in the most common
business software programs. The most logical time to test the students is as they enter the
university. If they have the necessary skill level, the requirement would be satisfied. If they
do not, they immediately are aware of deficiencies and can enroll in remedial courses to prepare
for retaking proficiency exams. The most common reason given not to implement a software
proficiency requirement was the logistical problem of adding more activities to the freshman/
new student orientation. The current program is a one-day on-campus visit the summer before
the student first attends the university. Software testing would add approximately 90 minutes
to the schedule. Another reason given is that not all students are majoring in computers. To
counter this objection, it was pointed out that most employers expect college graduates to
know basic computer skills, enough to write a report, keep a budget, and make a simple
presentation. The third objection is that it would not be fair to allow one department to get
all the credit hours that would be generated as a result of the necessary remedial classes that
would be taken.
IMPLEMENTATION
Because the instructors of the general education computer course believed the
students needed the software skills now and not when the political battles were settled, a
software proficiency requirement was implemented in all sections of the general education
course. The course is not only taken by all majors on campus but also is required of all business
majors. In the Fall 2001 semester, approximately 600 students enrolled in the course were
required to achieve at least 80% on each of the exams in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and
Word. When a minimum of 80% was achieved, a pass was recorded for that exam. No points
were awarded for the proficiency exams. Students who did not master the three exams could
not receive a grade higher than a D in the course, even if grades for other course work were
higher than a D. The proficiency exams were only a portion of the course. Regular class periods
included lecture and videos over computer hardware, online research, and Internet use.
Course work included three multiple-choice exams over lectures, several homework exercises
