In today’s modern world, computer systems and technology run the world. They make life easier for people who know how to use them. There is a problem with this, however. A lot of people do not understand how to properly use a computer to make their lives easier. The policy that I propose is to create mandatory computer classes for students in lower-level education levels. This is so they can have these skills for later in life. The reason that computer classes are important for young students is because computers control mostly everything today, most jobs require computers skills of some sort and having computer skills give younger people the advantage over others in the real world. Computer skills are a necessity, and I think teaching students how to use them at early ages would not only help them but help the rest of the world and the economy.
First, computer classes would give students the advantage because computers control mostly everything in today’s modern world. It is explained here that “Computer literacy is the knowledge and ability to use computers and technology efficiently. Computer literacy can also refer to the comfort level someone has with using computer programs and other applications that are associated with computers.” (LaPlant 1). Computer literacy courses are taught in some schools, but not in every single one. This I believe is a major problem. Most schools all over the country have computers for their students so that they can complete work like writing essays, but there is no class that teaches them how to use them effectively. The skills that need to be taught include typing skills, how to use the internet safely and what to avoid, and how to use applications like Microsoft Office, anti-virus software services, and text editors. This would help them in life because most of the population has access to some sort of computer at home. More advanced skills like programming and networking courses should also be taught in schools but should not be mandatory. However, not every school offers classes like these either. My idea proposes more funding for computer literacy related courses for students.
Second, teaching computer skills early to students will give them the advantage in getting jobs later in their careers. This can be with any field of study. The goal of public schooling is to prepare students for jobs and careers later in life. One study finds that “The rapid spread of computer technology in the workplace may explain as much as 30 to 50 percent of the extra growth in the demand for more-skilled workers since 1970.” (The Digest: No. 9, September 1997). This shows how important computers are becoming to companies and the workforce. The world needs people who know how to use a computer. There are students who do not like computers, but I still think that they need some basic computer skills. This is so they have it easier when graduating high school or college. Even fields of study that are not computer related still want people who can use a computer. Computers can be used to write resumes for certain jobs, and it is harder for students to do that when they can even type an average of forty to fifty words per minute. Therefore, I think that this should be more of a priority than classes like biology or certain math classes.
Finally, teaching students computer skills early will give them an advantage over others in real life and in school. Students who choose to study computer science or information technology may have an advantage over others because of their ability to use a computer like a robot. It can become a machine that does work for you instead of being against you. For students not studying these fields, by having basic computer literacy, any job can become simple. One example of a skill to use is file maintenance and organization. It is explained here that “Schoolwork adds up, and with hundreds of files saved to a student’s hard drive, the need for a system that addresses how and where students store their work is imperative. To ensure a student’s computer continues to function at its best, students must understand how to: Create and label folders, file content in folders and know that each folder may hold individual files or additional folders with subfolders, read file suffixes and interpret their importance (e.g., that a file ending in .docx will open in Microsoft Word, and .xls will open in Microsoft Excel), use external drives, such as flash drives, transfer and share cloud files, such as via Dropbox, Microsoft’s OneDrive, and Google Drive. (Hess, October 2022). Knowing skills like this can put anyone ahead in everything in life, which is why I believe this is important.
Teaching students computer skills is very important, and I think that it would help everyone and everything in society. This would create good workers, have smarter and more efficient students, and give them the advantage over everyone else in life. I believe the federal government should create a new plan for public schools that make computer literacy and management another important subject for all students to learn just like math, science, and history. This would create a world of smarter individuals and get a lot more work done, which would further boost the economy.
Works Cited
LaPlant, Karen. Why Computer Skills Are Important in Achieving Academic Success and Improving Retention, Hennepin Technical College, http://www.csplacement.com/downloads/WhyComputerSkillsareImportant.pdf
Unknown, “How Has Computer Use Changed the Labor Market?” NBER, www.nber.org/digest/sep97/how-has-computer-use-changed-labor-market.
Hess, Melani, “Essential Computer Skills for a High School Student.” Connections Academy, 2 Sept. 2021, http://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/7-computer-skills-to-master-by-high-school/.
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