STEM Talking Points

What is computer literacy and why is it important to be computer literate?

Computer Literacy is a term used to describe individuals who have the knowledge and skills to use a computer and other related technology (Technopedia.com, N.D.). In the simplest terms, it is the ability to use a computer, smart phone, or tablet and can perform any task that a normal user of these devices could do. These, however, do not include the ability to build a computer, or code a website in HTML. Some skills that do fall into the category of computer literate are using the Microsoft Office suite, or forwarding an email. They are also important skills in the world we live in today. Computers, smart phones, and tablets are used in almost every industry and career field, and as such, knowing how to use them is of the utmost importance.

Reference:

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/23303/computer-literate

What are some ways in which technology has affected society?

Americans have had a long-held fascination with technology. This fascination continues unabated into the 21st century as US consumers are spending an ever increasing amount of time with technology (As cited in Roberts, 2014). Technology has affected society in numerous ways, especially over the last century. With the advent of computers, our society has changed drastically. From the invention of computers towards the beginning of the 20th century, to the creation of the personal computer, our world has changed how we function as human beings. At the end of the 20th century, we saw the rise of the cell phone, watched as its features grew more and more useful and now see it as an aspect of our daily lives. During this time, the Internet, (or Internet of Things as we know it now) also became an important aspect of our lives. Without these developments, it is unknown what our world would look like today, and what sort of technology may have rose in their places.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4291831/

What are some ways in which I might use technology in my career?

Technology is like a weed in the professional world of today. Any job in an office setting is going to have computers, and the employees working these jobs need to know how to use them. No matter what field you work in, if you’re hoping to get ahead in your career, you need to be mindful of technology trends. We’ve seen it all too often in recent history, that a new technology takes over and suddenly those who can’t keep up are no longer needed (Marr, 2015). Another way that technology is being used in a career is the use of a smart phone for work. Many jobs provide them for their employees, as well as many that require them. The use of a landline in an office setting is starting to go the way of the dinosaur and being replaced by smart phone usage. Lastly, many different types of software are used for many different careers as well. From Adobe, to Office used for different jobs involving writing, to the software used by police to receive 911 calls, most professions use applications to bring ease to the job.

References:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2015/09/01/7-technology-trends-that-will-make-or-break-many-careers/#13bcfa5c251f