By Cameron Pettrone
Staff Writer
Before Thanksgiving break, the faculty senate met and decided that students of all majors should have basic computer understanding.
The reasoning behind this increased push for all students to become technologically literate is the result of the digital revolution’s effect on society. It also, in part, is because of the way everyone operates on a day-to-day basis.
The main goal of this new training and instruction, as stated on the motions passed by the senate, provided by Anne Foerst, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science, is to have students, “Understand the impact of the information revolution on themselves and society, make competent use of the technology and appropriately evaluate the information it makes available.”
Todd Palmer, Ph.D., chair of the management department, attended this meeting along with members of the IT Department, technology services and faculty from the arts, science, education and communication departments on campus.
Palmer believes that understanding technology is imperative in this day and age for everyone, not just for students.
“Your ability to communicate, your ability to get a job, your ability to operate in society is dependent on how well you can master these technologies,” said Palmer.
Palmer said the ability to discern information is critical for both education and life.
“There has never been a time in history when people your age need to be better prepared to distinguish truths from untruths,” said Palmer.
Something that has been making headlines recently is the abundance of fake news stories popping up on Facebook. Palmer emphasizes how this, along with the “echo chamber” social media creates, will lead to many issues in the near future regarding how people consume information.
“Social media is taking the place of schools when it comes to forming values,” said Palmer. “This is not a good thing.”
He believes that utilizing technology goes far beyond teaching programs such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint.
“It’s something that everyone needs to know,” he said.
One of the major talking points of the senate meeting was how students need to learn how to use the internet more efficiently and make better searches.
The faculty discussed at the meeting how almost everyone knows how to browse the internet, but very few can make good searches.
“One of the big myths about your generation is that you are all technologically literate, and that’s not true,” said Palmer.
Palmer stressed his confidence in the new programs, but believes that there is still a long road ahead when it comes to properly educating students to be technologically competent.
“The university is taking a good first step,” said Palmer. “We have to make sure students know how these technologies work.”
petrrocj16@bonaventure.edu
