With job markets becoming increasingly more technologically competitive it is imperative that today’s higher education students be well versed in nearly every aspect of basic computer literacy. Recently Michigan Technological University installed over 250 wireless access points across campus (Source), in theory making MTU completely wireless. With the installation of these new access points MTU has banned all resident provided wireless routers and access points in the residence halls. In direct result of these “improvements” many students find themselves being disconnected from the university access points and unable to perform even the most basic of internet searches. In past years whether or not one had wireless access would solely depend on if they had purchased a wireless router of their own. This instability has led many students to ignore the ban and bypass the MTU provided access points and to replace them with their own. In addition to the wireless connectivity issues, MTU has implemented a new Network Access Control System which in turn dictates who is authorized to use and connect to the network at MTU. This Network Access Control System has been the culprit of many of the wireless issues witnessed by both myself and other students.
The ability to understand and access the internet is vital in today's university and workplace atmospheres. This paper will attempt to propose solutions to help better educate individuals who lack the technical skills to appropriately troubleshoot internet connectivity issues by helping those individuals become more technologically literate. In order to grasp the full scope of this paper it is important to define what technological literacy is and what components of Michigan Tech student’s issues are related to a deficiency in it.
Kate Williams writes “Generally, computer literacy has acquired a skills connation, implying competency with a few of today’s computer applications, such as word processing and email. “ (Literacy and Computer Literacy) In today's day and age this observation is what most of us would consider an appropriate definition of computer literacy. However with the ever increasing roles that technology plays in the workplace (Technological Change in the Workplace), colleges are striving to turn out more technology savy graduates. Access can be defined “freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something” (Access) .Michigan Technological University is one such school that prides itself on creating extremely well technologically literate graduates in the areas of computer science, engineering, and business. However not all of the student population falls into one of those three categories and therefore they often lack sufficient technical proficiency with computer systems.
During my second year at Michigan Tech, I was required to take a computer literacy class (then BA1200) in which the majority of students demonstrated technical literacy with the Microsoft Windows operating system, and Microsoft Office collection of programs, however there were times in that class when issues would arise (missing files, usb drives wouldn't work etc.) in which I had to offer my assistance to the victims of such atrocities as they were often left bewildered and confused. All of my life I have witnessed those who do not understand technology look helpless and terrified at printer jams, blue screens of death and other technology related problems. At Michigan Tech especially I find that most people I come into contact with lack the abilities to solve basic technology related issues. Since tech implemented their new wireless system I often find myself helping random people down the hall with internet connectivity issues, driver problems etc. I find that often times as Kate Williams writes “[A] highly FIT [fluent in information technology] individual may simply decide that it
is not worth his or her time to fix a problem, even if he or she could do so.” best describes how I feel about these technologically influent individuals problems. Worse yet most of these people refuse to try and Google or search for solutions on their own. I feel that by teaching how to troubleshoot technology related issues, including wireless connectivity issues my fellow Michigan Tech students would be better prepared for the future, and thus more technically literate.
In order to teach students how to troubleshoot these issues, I believe that a required class should be implemented into every degree requirement. This class would be for only 1-7 weeks and would only cost a single half credit. In this class students would be faced with issues regarding simple things such as accidentally deleting a file, identifying if your computer is infected with a virus, and how to use ipconfig release and renew commands to provide your computer system with a new IP address. In addition students of this class would learn how the internet works, and how common everyday technologies work. Major areas of focus for the class will be how to effectively use internet search systems such as Google, and Bing to resolve technology related issues. It is my observation through experimentation that once people are more educated about technology and how it works they would feel less naive about its capabilities. A reading by PewInternet provides evidence that suggests that technology illiterate individuals “are not comfortable using computers or the internet on their own” (Home Broadband 2010) further examination of the reading indicates that in 2010 twenty one percent of adults did not use the internet, these numbers are relevant to the localized community of Michigan Tech because students come from all over the world at any age, each with varying levels of technology experience and some with very little. It is very possible that any number of that 21% could be enrolled at Michigan Tech right now and because they lack the proper knowledge on how to troubleshoot and use the internet they are potentially stunting their academic growth and are creating a technological handicap for themselves in the future.
Implementing classes for everyone to learn how to troubleshoot and solve their own real-world technology related issues would create a better prepared workforce and would potentially increase the productivity and confidence of individuals who once struggled with technology.
Works Cited
"Access - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary." Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/access>.
"Home Broadband 2010 | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project." Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.pewinternet.org/Press-Releases/2010/Home-Broadband-2010.aspx>.
"Literacy and Computer Literacy: Analyzing the NRC's Being Fluent with Information Technology." literacyandtechnology.org. Kate Williams, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://www.literacyandtechnology.org/volume3/literacy.katewilliams.pdf>.
Mitchell, Bradley. "Release and Renew IP Addresses on Windows XP | 2000 | NT." Networking - Computer and Wireless Networking Basics - Home Networks Tutorials. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/windowsnetworkin1/ht/renewipaddrwxp.htm>.
"Technological Change in the Workplace: A Statewide Survey of Community College Library and Learning Resources Personnel ." Technological Change in the Workplace: A Statewide Survey of Community College Library and Learning Resources Personnel . Carolyn E. Poole and Emmett Denny, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <crl.acrl.org/content/62/6/503.full.pdf>.
"The Technological Fix: How People Use Technology to Create and Solve Problems - Lisa Rosner - Google Books." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Technological_Fix.html?id=8mrBegA8KXwC>.
"What is a driver?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2012. <http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/windows-vista/What-is-a-driver>.
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