August 2002 — Features
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Certification of Computer Literacy
Standards, Goals and Guidelines
Numerous technology standards, goals and guidelines targeting computer literacy have been developed at the national, state and district levels with standards for elementary, secondary and postsecondary institutions. Few, if any, are self-contained, providing the resources and materials mapped to the specific requirements. With so many recommendations from so many different sources, teachers and their schools often find it difficult to know what to do and/or how to accomplish it.
National standards. One example of a national initiative to develop standards for technology is the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project. The NETS Project was developed by the International Society for Technology in Education and a consortium of partners, including the National Education Association, the National School Boards Association and the American Federation of Teachers. The group has identified and defined standards for students, the integration of curriculum technology, technology support, and standards for student assessment and evaluation of technology use. The project's goal is to allow "stakeholders in preK-12 education to develop national standards for educational uses of technology that facilitate school improvement in the United States" (NETS 2000).
State standards. Most states, such as Michigan, have also created technology plans. The Michigan State Technology Plan was first developed in 1998 by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). Its goal is to provide "support for the role that technology can play in furthering the educational mission and contributing to student achievement. ... The growth in the use of voice, video and data technologies by schools in Michigan parallels the evolution of state technology plans adopted by the Board and the implementation of recommendations included in those plans by the MDE" (MDE 2000). Michigan's plan includes 21 recommendations and more than a dozen belief statements focused on incorporating technology into the curriculum, training teachers and other staff members, as well as funding education technology programs. It's also focused on providing equal access to technology-delivered learning resources for all students, and establishing technical standards and a telecommunications infrastructure on which educators can rely.
Need for Certification
Competition in the business world is global and information-based. As a result, knowledge of computers is critical for anyone wishing to succeed in the work force. Given the global nature of technology and the business world, a certification of an individual's technology skills that is acceptable and recognizable worldwide would benefit all involved. Certification has become an important measurement for employers in validating the knowledge and skills of employees, especially in IT. In the educational process, the high school business curriculum can best provide for computer literacy in preparing students for the global work environment. Some postsecondary school officials have already noted the role of secondary schools in preparing students with computer skills. Postsecondary institutions are finding incoming freshmen have already learned much of what they need to know in high school or at home on their PCs (Mendels 1999).
