Introduction to Computing Technology: New Interactive Animated Web-Based Learning Content

Abstract

Computing technology is ubiquitous, in the form of computers, tablets, smartphones, the web, cloud computing, email, text messages, social media, and much more. Computing technology is centrally relevant in the careers and lives of increasingly more people. As a result, more universities require students to take at least one course in computing/information technology. Unfortunately, the most widely used textbooks are written as (or have bloated into) comprehensive references, focusing excessively on terms and definitions that are quickly forgotten by students after a course is over. Instead, given computing technology's central relevance, such a course should be one of the most interesting and useful at a university, being an engaging introduction that positively influences students' interactions with computing technologies. Thus, in 2015, we developed new learning material for computing technology courses, starting from scratch, and developing natively for the web. We favored meaningful understanding of the most relevant computing technologies, versus exhaustive but shallow coverage of a wider topic array. This paper highlights the first version of the learning material, including discussions of some of the key interactive web-based activities. In its first year, the material has been adopted by over 20 universities, either for a full course, or as part of a course introducing computer science or computer programming (the material is modular and thus can be combined with other materials), and feedback from instructors and students is very positive. The material is currently published as "Computing Technology for All" (zyBooks.com).