Importance of computer literacy

In this edition, The Express has two stories that deal with computers – one that is good, and one that is bad.

To start things off on a good note, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology is now teaching future educators about various aspects of the computer world, including coding and computer literacy. The goal with these new courses is that teachers of the future will then be able to instill these skills into children, bringing them on par with other countries that have made computer literacy a priority and are pushing ahead as a result.

The world of computers changes quickly, and Dr. Diana Petrarca, the school’s bachelor of education director, said it best when she said that “young Canadians are clearly growing up in a vastly different technological environment than even the most recent generation did prior to Y2K.”

Therefore, it’s vital that our students learn the newest and most up to date skills when it comes to computers because, quite frankly, they’re the way the world is headed and has been heading for the past two decades.

On the other side, there’s the story of Miolicent Todd, an Oshawa senior citizen who was taken for thousands of dollars in an online scheme.

Todd, looking online, came across an ad for a company that promised to help her earn thousands of dollars from the comfort of her own home.

And as is the case with many things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Durham police have investigated many cases such as these, and send out advisories on a regular basis to help people not fall prey to plots such as these.

However, relying on the police to put notices from time to time isn’t enough, as they often become involved when the swindling has already taken place. More focus needs to be put on making sure seniors and others who aren’t as computer literate to be aware of the types of things that can be found online, and how to avoid them in the first place.