Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Mapping of
Fluency Topics
Between 1997 and 1999, the Computer Science and
Telecommunications Board of the National Research Council
(NRC) considered what computingrelated knowledge and skills are
vital for general citizens. In 1999, the board's recommendations
were published in a booklet,
Being Fluent with Information
Technology
. In summary, that report identifies 10 highlevel “intel
lectual capacities,” 10 “information technology concepts,” and 10
practical “information technology skills” that cover basic computer
fluency.
This topic has been developed to address each of these capacities,
concepts, and skills. More specifically, the following tables provide a
general mapping of which of these topics are covered in this topic and
where. When a chapter discusses a topic, the level of coverage is viewed
as “Light,” “Moderate,” or “Significant.” Although these judgments
are largely subjective and based on levels appropriate for an introduc
tory audience, they may provide some guidance regarding the organi
zation of topics within this topic and extent of topic coverage.
Turning specifically to the coverage of intellectual capacities, the
tables that follow highlight discussions within the topic. Development
of intellectual capacities, however, depends upon practice with exer
cises as well as understanding of issues and approaches. Thus, in ad
dition to formal discussions, each chapter contains several Discussion
Questions and Exercises. These readerbased activities promote many
of the identified intellectual capacities throughout the topic.
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