{"id":2107,"date":"2012-04-02T09:17:36","date_gmt":"2012-04-02T15:17:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/minkhollow.ca\/beckerblog\/?p=2107"},"modified":"2014-09-12T11:38:10","modified_gmt":"2014-09-12T17:38:10","slug":"computer-literacy-does-knowing-how-to-drive-understanding-cars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/minkhollow.ca\/beckerblog\/2012\/04\/02\/computer-literacy-does-knowing-how-to-drive-understanding-cars\/","title":{"rendered":"Computer Literacy: Does knowing how to drive = understanding cars?"},"content":{"rendered":"Approximate Reading Time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>

Of course not.<\/p>\n

So why do people believe that they “know” about computers simply because they can use Word, or iTunes, or some other app? (Or even a lot of apps…)<\/p>\n

It is high time that we accept the fact that “technology” is here to stay and that we have become as reliant on computers as we are on electricity.<\/p>\n

Does that mean everyone needs to know what I know about computing (I have 2 degrees in CS and taught it for 25+ years)? Hardly.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Does it mean everyone should know something about how this stuff actually works? You bet it does!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s a great reason: You need to learn enough so that you are no longer at the mercy of IT people who try and tell you what is and is not possible or reasonable.<\/p>\n

A Surge in Learning the Language of the Internet – NYTimes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe know that we\u2019re not going to turn the 99 percent of people interested in learning to code into the 1 percent who are really good at it,\u201d said Mr. Sims of Codecademy. \u201cThere\u2019s a big difference between being code-literate and being a good programmer.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

You are fooling yourself if you think knowing how to use other people’s apps makes you literate. It’s like believing you know about cars simply because you can drive.<\/p>\n