In my opinion, in the undergraduate portion of education, the school should teach students to learn in as many ways as they can, as many different things as they can, by whatever means necessary. Does this always mean a PC/Mac? Not necessarily. It does mean if a university requires students to do things online that they offer the resources to utilize these tools at a fair price. For some, this might mean offering a PC for each student, along with a class or 2 on how to use it. For others, it might mean a student/PC ratio of 10/1, so we can avoid these unnecessarily long delays.
The last, but most important, thing universities owe their students, is clear expectations on what is expected of them as a student, for everything.
As a 52 year old raised before computers and the associated lingo were even known to exist, I find the requirements for on-line learning, registration, access, compliation of data, etc., difficult at best, and absolutely frustrating, even demoralizing, at worst. And I have come a LONG way!
Even with the new knowlege I've gained in the past 10 years, the number of computer problems and associated social problems, i.e., missed information, missed deadlines, software problems, inability to access information because of hardware problems -see, I've learned a little terminology- is formidible.
I've thought about this often. How about making, as a requirement for ALL programs, three classes: WORD,(do this first as papers are a primary requirement for all that follows), EXCEL, (an absolutely invaluable tool for all sorts of activites, processes, etc.), and then, after those, a hardware class, where you truly learn how to troubleshoot your computer for URL problems, links, junk mail, spam, etc., etc? This is where I absolutely fall short. The rest, I've learned on my own, with assistance from some dear, computer savvy friends. Of course, there could be a test-out, a CLEP test of sorts, for those who've grown up with computers their whole lives, AND HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THEM - those that are WIRED!
Beyond this, the question of how much assistance an institution is responsible for remains. Perhaps, some assistance could be obtained from foundations, alumni associations, etc. The question is a difficult one, but could be linked to financial assistance information acquired at enrollment.
There is no doubt that in the future, all will need not only the knowledge of computers, hardware and software, but also PC's, laptops, palm pilots, etc., because there is no going back. The telephone and television taught us that long ago.
Judy Garfield, RN, BSN, OCN
Oncology Research Nurse
UWCC-Riverview
Wisconsin Rapids,WI
garfield1@tznet.com
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