Elementary computer literacy (SIGCAS)
Orrin E. Taulbee, Philip L. Miller, Robert L. Hare · 1981
Computer science departments have spent a large percentage of their efforts on educating majors. This is as it should have been since there was a need to establish an identity for computer science. This task is by no means complete, but it is far enough along that more attention can be directed to the large numbers of students who do not want to be majors. Departments are beginning to respond to students who want a minor - particularly those who are majoring in the sciences. But, other than providing what might be labeled “computer appreciation” courses or introductory programming courses, little has been done for the large body of non-science majors. The challenge is; what should be the content of a course in which the assumption must be made that this is the only opportunity for the student to study commuter science as an undergraduate? My remarks will be directed toward answering this question.