The effective use of web-based training and assessment in a computer literacy course

With the onset of the millennium comes the diversity of students ’ knowledge in the field of computer literacy. High schools are now graduating a more computer literate student. This poses a challenge to the basic computer literacy course instructor. How to meet the needs of all students is a common quandary. It has been my experience as an educator that the an-swer lies in the implementation of a web-based training and assessment software package. Fifty percent of our course in computer literacy delves into computer concepts. This author does not endorse web-based training and assessment in that area. When discussing computer ethics or cybercrimes, for example, the traditional classroom is a much better venue to entice student interaction and critical thinking. This paper will explain how using training and as-sessment software in the computer applications portion of the course will effectively meet the needs of the non-traditional student as well as the traditional student. It will explain the use of this software in the classroom. The author does not endorse one specific software tool, only the concept of using web-based training and assessment for teaching a skill subject. Th