Computing Skills - Take 2

[brong]

So cuddlefairy asked last week - "what do you think are the 5 most important computing skills for a child to coming out of school".

After a bunch of discussion in that thread, and at home, and at camp... here's the revised list as decided by me. Usual disclaimers apply.

• How Computers Work - how to switch them on and off. That cables need to be plugged in or wireless services need to have a working association between endpoints. Operating a mouse. Using a keyboard (including typing - at least knowing touch-typing exists even if not proficient) The other stuff is all built on this. Also things like menu bars, right mouse button context menus. The standard interface components on which human-computer interaction is built.
• Word Processing - including creating documents, basic layout and printing
• File Management - saving files into folders. Finding them again. Copying them between folders and between devices. Keeping track of which version is the "current" one you're working on (even just "My Doc v1, My Doc v2, ...") I still think this rates separate mention. Especially when you have a copy on a USB stick, a copy at home, a copy in your folder at school and a couple of different copies in emails you've been sending around. You need to be able to know which one is most recent somehow. It's a tricky one to teach/test for though.
• Internet Communications (including Safety / Privacy) - controlling the spread of your personal information. Use of email/instant messaging/blogs. Knowing what's appropriate in what context. Not opening viruses!
• Programming - dammit. I got a lot of push-back on this one. "they don't need it yet". It's like an english class teaching kids how to read but not how to write. "You will be a passive consumer of text-based product". Ho hum. Teach them to create while they can still learn. They can learn to consume any time - everyone else in the world is happy to push that.

EDIT TO ADD:

Programming - I'm thinking things like:

* Logo
* Squeak
* ... etc

EDIT - first point was this before... rewrote it.

• Basic IO - operating a mouse. Typing (including at least knowing that there's a standard finger positioning, even if they aren't using it consistently. Don't bother with Dvorak at this stage - I'm looking at you here cuddlefairy - QWERTY has won for the moment). How to turn computers on and off. The other stuff is all built on this. Also things like menu bars, right mouse button context menus. The standard interface components on which human-computer interaction is built.