BeneFIT100: Developing Fluency with Information Technology through Distance Education

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

Information Science and Systems (33) This project addresses the need for access to educational opportunities enabling anyone to become fluent in information technology as defined by the 1999 National Research Council's report "Being Fluent with Information Technology" which defined what Skills, Concepts, and Capabilities everyone should possess for work, citizenship and personal benefit. This project is creating BeneFIT100, a free, online self-study version for independent learners, based upon the fluency course first developed at the University of Washington in 1999. Developed with high production values, the course includes all the labs and projects of the successful classroom version. To reach students not sophisticated enough for a self-study approach, we also offer an instructor-mediated version of BeneFIT100. We address the need for a Fluency instructor corps by using BeneFIT100 and a specialized workshop to train a nationally selected cohort of future Fluency instructors. Thus, the project creates a new, unique resource of international importance, and demonstrates leveraging it for teacher training.