Computer literacy backbone of business education

|tab|

How "computer literate" are you? Or should I ask, "How computer illiterate are you?" |ret||ret||tab|

Does it seem that what you learned yesterday is completely outdated today? Some days it may seem that the "wheels of time" are turning too fast when it comes to keeping abreast of computers and software. We are truly living in the information age and that information comes to us at ever-increasing speed. Everywhere you turn, there's a computer in your car, in the grocery store, where you buy your jeans, when you call for tax assistance, or when you call for a pharmacy refill. It seems the whole world depends on that little "chip." |ret||ret||tab|

Networked computers and "e-business" are the new concepts for operating a business, but e-business is more than just creating a Web site. How are the computers networked? What happens if the server goes down? Who do you call? And how do you, as a businessperson, hire someone to resolve this situation if you don't understand what skills the employee needs?|ret||ret||tab|

All this computer information and what employees need to know has a dramatic impact on what the kids are learning in school. If you haven't noticed, the whole "business" of education is changing. Computer literacy instruction begins early; the kids have access at an early age to computers, both in their schools and in their homes. Business education in the past began in high school vocational programs; now career preparation starts in the elementary schools and students are presented keyboarding skills in middle school studies. Business application software programs are taught in the high school programs, along with the basics of accounting and business law concepts. Internet exploration is done at every school, and the need for more and more computers is recognized. E-mail is a common occurrence among the young and old alike. The need for increased instruction on how to use computers is changing the focus of business education. The demand for computer literacy requires that we not only instruct our business students to memorize management and marketing theories but that we insist that business majors be computer literate in the use of computer applications, understand the importance of hardware and software compatibilities, comprehend the networking of computers and servers, and incorporate troubleshooting skills. |ret||ret||tab|

Managing and operating a business today has a whole new meaning. Electronic record keeping is becoming the basis of any successful business. Word processing skills are used in offices to save and retrieve electronic files, keeping up-to-date databases is needed for customer information and inventory purposes and the knowledge of how to create and manipulate a spreadsheet are necessities for success in today's business world. Learning how to make formal presentations with the use of a computer and data-video projector only enhance the professionalism of the business arena. Education must meet the needs of the business community by teaching the technology to all students.|ret||ret||tab|

As the 21st century comes about, so do entirely new ways of doing business. The skills needed to proficiently use the computer have become as basic as the need for knowing how to read and write. Computer literacy will be the basis of each and every business education program. Affordable, improved computer systems and computer applications software have inspired many people, regardless of age, to create and manage their own businesses from their homes, the "virtual office" environment. |ret||ret||tab|

No longer is computer literacy perceived as the need to know how to use the mouse, identify computer terminology or keyboard efficiently. Computer literacy is the need to know how to use the computer for personal use, to use software applications to manage our own day-to-day activities as well as how to plan, promote, and market businesses from the home. Computer instruction has become the backbone of every business education program that is offered, whether it's encouraging young students how to develop a career plan, guiding them in how to manage and market a new business, or teaching them to assist and administrate management of office personnel. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Jeanne Kruger is the division chair for business at Ozarks Technical Community College.)|bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

[[In-content Ad]]