Literacy: Being Fluent with Information Technology

Being literate and fluent in not only reading and writing skills but in technology as well is almost a complete necessity today for those looking to climb not only the work ladders but also the social ladders. I can attest to this, as a typical college student and aspired technical writer and/or web designer.

Being a scientific and technical communications major I am at the minimum required to have basic knowledge of how to create different mediums on a computer. Growing up as a digital native, as Palfrey and Gasser say, I already have quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to computers, and technology in general. I learned basic computer skills both on Macs and PCs easily by age 11, if not earlier.

Since then I have been building my knowledge, to the point of being what is called "computer literate." I can work both Macs and PCs with ease and comfort, as well as operate various programs like Adobe Photoshop, programs on Microsoft Office, as well as others. I can spit these facts right out simply because I had to no more than a week ago when I was in the process of updating my résumé. Yes, these days one is highly advised to include computer skills and knowledge on their résumé.

What I'm trying to say is that our world is changing with the ever-changing technology. People who are literate or fluent in information technology have an edge over those who aren't both in the workplace and in life in general. As Kate Williams says in her article, "Literacy and Computer Literacy: Analyzing the NRC's Bring Fluent with Information Technology," "students who become IT fluent...will have the power to navigate their way through work and life." Here she is talking about students, but it applies to most everyone who is searching for a job or to simply be socially accepted in the norm of society.

I agree with Williams in most of her claims in her writing. One thing that stood out to me however is when she made an argument that computers is "a way to level the playing field for poor kids." When I read this I immediately remembered Blackmon's article on minorities and computers. Blackmon argued that because of unequal funding in education systems in this country, many minorities feel uncomfortable and misrepresented online, thus saying that the communities with less educational funding (which have historically been minority communities) often have students who, for the most part, are not computer literate. The playing field is anything but level in this way, in my opinion.

Being digital natives, most students today are computer literate. However, these is also additional work that must be done for many students, including myself, to become fully computer literate. Personally, I am taking more and more classes, (including HU2642!) in order to learn more about computers and digital media in general. Someday when I'm  searching for a job after I graduate, I will be able to present a résumé that is chalk-full of technology and computer-related skills that will hopefully land me a preferred career at a good company that I like. With that résumé, I will essentially exclaim to my future employer that "I am a young, creative, open-minded hard worker who is computer literate and understands all the new technology in this world and who wants to work for you!" Or I will try ;)