Computer Literacy
Students at Centre College are frequently exposed to, engaged with, and become proficient with technology both in and out of the classroom at Centre; Centre students are computer literate. First year students are immersed in the Extended Orientation program in the first six weeks of their Centre College experience. Through this, all first-year students gain beginning basic instruction on the technology, as well as other information they will need to be successful in the rigorous academic programs and residential environment at Centre College. During extended orientation, research librarians give every first year student an introduction to library staff, services and resources. Students receive instruction on using the library catalog, searching electronic databases, and citing sources. The information covered in this orientation is also made available in an online Research Guide that students may access at any time. Students will utilize these skills throughout their four years in most of their classes. Students have access to desktop computers in the library. Laptops and chargers are available for checkout and the library has a presentation space available in which students may practice and record their oral presentations.
Students also complete a variety of technology-based assignments in their required first-year seminars, in all general education courses, and in courses throughout the curriculum. These range from the use of word processing programs to create typed papers to a more sophisticated use of spreadsheets, computer simulations, and graphical software. In their upper-level courses, they also learn to use discipline-specific software and technologies. Many courses across the curriculum and at all levels of study require the use of presentation software to complement the delivery of oral presentations. Oral and written communication are explicit student learning goals for the first-year studies courses and for our general education curriculum. Therefore it wasn’t surprising that one hundred percent of first-year students who took the National Survey of Student Engagement(NSSE) said that they gave a course presentation during their first year at Centre College (NSSE Survey 2013).
Equipment and assistance are available for these technology-based projects through the Center for Teaching and Learning. Some recent examples of in-class assignments include: the creation of videos, digital presentations, digital stories, and the writing of blogs. In addition, students have access to the media lab where instruction and availability to more advanced software programs such as Adobe Master Collection, iLife, Comic Life, and Anime Studio exist.
Outside of the classroom, the ITS Technology Support Center provides a central location for computer, mobile device and software support and configuration assistance. Students are provided access to public computers throughout campus with a host of general and specialized software. Students with their own computers and/or mobile devices can access campus systems as well as the Internet most everywhere on campus using Centre’s pervasive wireless and wired campus network. From the campus portal system, CentreNet, students can access their email accounts, Microsoft Office 365 (web-based version), Moodle, and select cloud-based document repositories as well as full access to online student registration, class schedules and degree program planning tools. Our students are also provided with access to many online departmental services from career and graduate school planning resources to discipline-based research services. Centre students have access to and use a variety of sophisticated electronic tools in their pursuit of academic success and excellence.