| Computer science faculty at most universities claim computer literacy courses are no longer relevant. Results of this study showed that the urban community college student benefited from computer literacy instruction, regardless of age, prior computer experience, or pre-course computer proficiency. The students were enrolled in introduction to computer science for non-majors. They were grouped based on enrollment in a day, evening, or online course to control for possible demographic influence on computer skill. A self-assessment survey of computer skills was administered pre- and post-course to measure the effect of instruction on knowledge of computer hardware, operating systems, computer applications, Internet literacy, and multimedia. All student groups showed statistically significant improvement in computer aptitude. They achieved proficiency scores equal to or exceeding those of university students. Computer literacy instruction is advantageous to the community college student. It promotes computer mastery and ensures opportunity and accessibility to technology. |
