Informing Science InSITE- “Where Parallels Intersect ” June 2003 Team Teaching an Advance.pdfVIP

Informing Science InSITE - “Where Parallels Intersect” June 2003 Team Teaching an Advanced Computer Fluency Course: A Composite Perspective Ned Kock Lehigh University, Bethlehem, USA nfk2@ Robert Aiken, David Dalton, David Elesh, Anthony Ranere, Cheryl Sandas Temple University, Philadelphia, USA aiken@ dalton@ delesh@ ranere@ csandas@ Abstract This paper discusses the observations of six instructors who team-taught an advanced computer fluency course over a period of three years. The course exposed students to complex information technology ap- plications, such as geographic information and molecular design systems, in specific professional do- mains. One of the main goals of the course was to give students a glimpse at real-world applications of information technology aimed at solving complex problems. In addition to providing personal observa- tions we summarize some of the problems that were encountered and how we addressed them. Also, the result of analyzing some preliminary data is discussed. The goal is to assist other instructors who might be interested in designing/teaching a similar course. Keywords: Computer fluency, Non- majors, Lifelong learning, Co-teaching, Cross-disciplinary teaching Introduction The authors of this paper developed and taught a course designed to provide students, not majoring in computing, the skills and confidence to go beyond the introductory computer literacy course. The objec- tive was to prepare students to integrate IT seamlessly into the fabric of