Improving Computer Literacy of Business Management Majors: A Case Study

Abstract

Executive SummaryStakeholders, such as future employers, parents, and educators, have raised their expectations of college graduates in the area of computer literacy. Computer skills and understanding are especially critical for business management graduates, who are expected to use computer technology as a tool in every aspect of their career. Business students should be able to show an enhanced understanding of computer literacy as they progress through each year of their college experience. An ideal final assessment should show that these students are able to make use of their computer skills in high-level problem solving situations.At the institution in this study, Utah Valley State College (UVSC), business management majors are required to complete a computer competency requirement early in their program by either taking a comprehensive computer applications course or by passing a state-wide computer proficiency exam. Later in their junior or senior year, these business students take a Management Information Systems (MIS) course where they are again expected to complete targeted business problems using spreadsheet, database, word processing, or presentation applications. These assigned business problems begin to approach the level of problem-solving expected by future employers. Instructors of the MIS course were seeing a lack of preparation and understanding as business management majors attempted to complete the assigned problems.Objective and subjective computer competency evaluations were given to business management students during their freshman, junior, and senior years. The result of these evaluations showed a decrease in students' skill level and confidence level in some of the key computer literacy areas by graduation. When current or future employers were asked what computer literacy skills were most needed in business graduates, they ranked word processing and spreadsheet skills highest. In order to narrow the focus of this case study, spreadsheet use and confidence was singled out because this was the area in which our students seemed to need the most reinforcement and was highly valued by our local employers. At a future time, the participants of this study plan to extend this evaluation into other computer competency areas.

Learning strategies and motivational factors predicting information literacy self-efficacy of e-learners

“…Curriculum develops information literacy strategies for solving problems effectively or carrying out research in any discipline (Johnson, Bartholomew & Miller, 2006). Many higher education institutions are launching projects with an aim of enhancing student information literacy, since advancing student information literacy will enhance learning and support students academically.…”

Teaching High School Students Applied Logical Reasoning

“…Andriole claims that the new curriculum does not improve student ability to adapt to the new business environment and, therefore, suggests a curriculum that emphasizes practice over theory. A similar problem is described by Johnson, Bartholomew and Miller (2006) and Bartholomew (2003) who describe how college students' computer literacy is decreasing over time. They, too, find that MBA students' computer literacy does not meet prospective employers' expectations and needs.…”

“…This conclusion is supported by the students' report that they apply their newly gained logic tools in other topics of study. Thus, the positive effects of this course may address a variety of issues raised in recent years by researchers such as Andriole (2006), Johnson, Bartholomew andMiller (2006) and Bartholomew (2003).…”

Employer Perspectives on the Skills Needed by Business School Graduates: A Review of the Literature

“…Employers want to hire graduating business students who have a wide variety of computer skills (Hansen & Hansen, 2015;Johnson, Bartholomew, & Miller, 2006;Martinez, 2008). Computer skills are especially important for business management graduates, who are expected to use computer technology as a tool in all aspects of their careers.…”

“…Computer skills are especially important for business management graduates, who are expected to use computer technology as a tool in all aspects of their careers. Business students should be able to show an enhanced understanding of computer literacy before graduating and be able to make use of their computer skills in high-level problem-solving work situations (Johnson et al, 2006). Computer skills desired by employers include a basic understanding of computer hardware and software, especially word processing, spreadsheets, and email (Hansen & Hansen, 2015).…”