A Simple Tool to Measure

Computer Literacy

George Kontos, Ed.D.

Assistant Professor
Business and Computer Studies
Bowling Green CC of WKU
Problems a Teacher Faces

Class is not homogeneous because:

 Some students know a lot

 Some students know something
 Some students know nothing

How to deal with the situation?

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 2

 One Possible
Solution
Ask the students this question:
 “How much do you know about…?”

But, how do I do it?

 “Raise your hand if you know…” – Fast and

simple but unreliable (b/c not anonymous)
 Detailed survey, pretests, etc. – Takes time
and effort but may give reliable results
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 3
 A middle-of-the-road
approach?
1. Use a short and simple
questionnaire that asks
students the most important
questions.
2. Then, use a simple tool to
analyze the collected data
3. Finally, interpret the results
 This method was applied to an
introduction to computers
freshman class at
Bowling Green Community College
of Western Kentucky University
OVERVIEW:
 The Course
 The Tool
 The Results
 Limitations
 Discussion
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 5
 The Course
CSCI 145C Introduction to Computing

TOPICS:
 Concepts (Computer Terminology)
 History of Computers
 The Internet and the Web
 Social and Ethical Issues
 Security and Privacy
 Operating Systems
 Microsoft Windows, Unix, Linux, Mac OS, etc.
 Applications Software
 Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint)
 Practice (Lab Activities)
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 6
 Steps
First Day of Classes:
 Use questionnaire
 Collect data
Then:
 Analyze data
 Obtain results
And Finally:
 Interpret results
 Make decisions
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 7
 The Questionnaire
Computer Literacy Survey

1. I am an expert (I know everything about it)

2. I know it very much
3. I know some of it but not much
4. I know very little about it
5. I do not know any of it

On a scale of 1 to 5 (see above), please answer the following.

Please give your very honest answers. Thank you!

The Questionnaire (Cont.)
Answer (1 to 5)
Scale: 1 (know everything) 5 (know nothing)
(Please be honest!)

1. Computer Vocabulary ______

2. Microsoft Word ______
3. Microsoft Excel ______
4. Microsoft PowerPoint ______
5. Microsoft Access ______
6. Email ______
7. Web Searches ______
8. Networks ______
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 10
 1. Computer Terminology

50.0

50.0
40.0
30.0 15.0 15.0
Percent 15.0
20.0
5.0
10.0
0.0
1. 2. Know 3. Know 4. Know 5. Not
Expert very some very know
much little any

Level of Know ledge

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 11

 2. Microsoft Word

45.0

45.0
40.0
35.0 25.0
30.0 20.0
Percent 25.0
20.0 10.0
15.0
10.0 0.0
5.0
0.0
1. Expert 2. Know 3. Know 4. Know 5. Not
very some very little know
much any

Level of Knowledge

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 12

 3. Microsoft Excel

35.0
35.0 25.0
30.0 20.0 20.0
25.0
20.0
Percent
15.0
10.0
0.0
5.0
0.0
1. Expert 2. Know 3. Know 4. Know 5. Not
very some very little know
much any

Level of Know ledge

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 13

 4. Microsoft Pow erPoint

35.0
35.0
25.0
30.0 20.0
25.0
20.0 10.0 10.0
Percent
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
1. 2. Know3. Know4. Know 5. Not
Expert very some very know
much little any

Level of Knowledge

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 14

 5. Microsoft Access

45.0
50.0
40.0 30.0
30.0
Percent
20.0 5.0 10.0 10.0
10.0
0.0
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not
Expert Know Know Know know
very some very any
much little

Level of Knowledge

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 15

 6. Email

35.0 35.0
40.0 25.0
30.0
Percent 20.0 5.0
10.0 0.0
0.0
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not
ExpertKnow Know Know know
very some very any
much little

Level of Knowledge

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 16

 7. Web Searches

40.0
40.0 30.0
30.0 20.0
Percent 20.0 10.0
10.0 0.0
0.0
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not
Expert Know Know Know know
very some very any
much little

Level of Know ledge

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 17

 8. Networks

35.0
40.0 30.0
30.0 20.0
Percent 20.0 10.0
5.0
10.0
0.0
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not
Expert Know Know Know know
very some very any
much little

Level of Knowledge

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 18

 1. Computer Terminology 2. Microsoft Word 3. Microsoft Excel

50.0 35.0
45.0
50.0 35.0 25.0
50.0 30.0 20.0 20.0
40.0 40.0 25.0 25.0
15.0 15.0
Percent
30.0 15.0 30.0 20.0 Percent 20.0
15.0
20.0 5.0 Percent
10.0 20.0 10.0 10.0 0.0
0.0 5.0
0.0 10.0 0.0
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not
0.0
ExpertKnow Know Know know 1. 2. Know 3. Know 4. Know 5. Not Expert Know Know Know know
very some very any Expert very some very know very some very any
much little much little any much little

Level of Know ledge Level of Knowledge Level of Know ledge

4. Microsoft PowerPoint 5. Microsoft Access 6. Email

35.0 45.0
50.0 35.0 35.0
35.0 25.0 40.0
30.0 20.0 40.0 30.0 25.0
25.0 30.0
Percent 20.0 10.0 10.0 Percent 30.0
15.0 20.0 5.0 10.0 10.0 Percent 20.0 5.0
10.0 10.0 10.0 0.0
5.0 0.0 0.0
0.0
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not
ExpertKnow Know Know know ExpertKnow KnowKnow know ExpertKnowKnowKnowknow
very some very any very some very any very some very any
much little much little much little

Level of Knowledge Level of Knowledge Level of Know ledge

7. Web Searches 8. Netw orks

40.0
35.0
40.0 30.0 40.0 30.0
30.0 20.0 30.0 20.0
Percent 20.0 10.0 Percent 20.0 10.0
5.0
10.0 0.0 10.0
0.0 0.0
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not
ExpertKnow Know Know know ExpertKnowKnowKnow know
very some very any very some very any
much little much little
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 19
Level of Know ledge Level of Know ledge
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 20
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 21
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 22
 Limitations
 Validity concerns
 This is a self-assessment tool
 How ‘honest” were the students?
 Do the answers reflect what students
really know?
 Answers are subject to interpretation

Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 23

 Strengths of the Tool

 May easily be adapted to other

subject areas (English, math,…)

 Simple

 Q u i c k !
Computer Literacy Survey... (Kontos) 24