Draft 5.26.02
STANDARDS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) LITERACY
Preamble—currently being drafted by the Information Literacy Committee, Eastern Washington University
This document presents goals for achieving information technology (IT) literacy among our students as
deepening stages of development. We see four stages of Information Technology, referred to as “Standards
of Information Technology Literacy,” including:
1. develop functional
and perceptual
knowledge of
information
technology
2. investigate options
and apply knowledge
of information
technology to new
situations and/or
diverse conditions
3. integrate information
technology tools with
or without nontechnological tools,
while maintaining
task priorities
4. apply information
technology
creatively and
independently
Within each Standard, we list performances, which indicate whether or not the student has achieved that
particular stage of Information Technology (IT) literacy, and we associate each of the performances with
observable outcomes.
STANDARD ONE: The IT literate student has a functional and perceptual knowledge of
information technology.
Performance Indicators
1. The IT literate student identifies benefits derived from major capabilities of information
technology.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Identifies the major genres of software packages, such as, word processing,
spreadsheets, databases, Internet access, and presentation.
b. Identifies benefits from using current IT in preparing textual documents.
c. Identifies benefits from using current IT in preparing and presenting visual
accompaniment to oral presentations.
d. Identifies benefits from using current IT in creating quantitative documents
containing computed numerical and graphical information.
e. Identifies benefits from using current IT in handling large amounts of numerical,
textual, graphical, audio, or record based information.
f. Identifies benefits from using current IT in storage and retrieval of relevant
information in support of problem solving.
g. Identifies examples of embedded IT in the environments where the student lives and
works.
2. The IT literate student understands the role of hardware, software, networks and their
interaction.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Understands that software and hardware have different functions in typical uses of
IT.
b. Identifies major hardware components of IT.
c. Knows that software requires particular minimal hardware capability.
d. Knows that a particular software package may perform differently on dissimilar
hardware configurations.
e. Knows that information can be acquired and disseminated via various types of
networks (e.g., Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Internet,
World Wide Web, wired, wireless).
The IT literate student uses the primary functions of basic software packages.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Uses a Graphical User Interface to create, name, rename, and manage files, with
competence.
b. Uses primary functions of a word processing package, such as Word, with
competence.
c. Uses primary functions of a spreadsheet package, such as Excel, with competence.
d. Uses primary functions of a database to access information with competence.
e. Uses primary functions of a presentation package, such as PowerPoint, with
competence.
f. Uses primary functions of an email facility with competence.
g. Uses primary functions of a web browser with competence.
h. Adjusts to differences in software packages (e.g., versions, vendor packages).
The IT literate student recognizes that various IT can be used to expand and enhance
one’s knowledge base.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Recognizes that IT can be used to locate data, information, and ideas.
b. Recognizes that IT can be used to enhance information.
c. Recognizes that IT can be used to examine information.
d. Recognizes that IT can be used to present and create information.
The IT literate student comprehends the necessity of continued learning.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Understands that there is much to learn about the capabilities of available IT.
b. Is aware of the need to learn about changes and improvements in IT.
c. Expresses growing confidence in learning IT unfamiliar to the student.
d. Understands that staying current with IT will be an important factor in making
educated life decisions.
The IT literate student identifies important issues related to personal use of IT.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Is aware of health and safety issues related to personal use of IT.
b. Is aware of legal and ethical issues related to personal use of IT.
c. Is aware of the University Computer Use policy as currently described in the Student
Conduct Code “Abuse of Computing Facilities” as well as the University’s
Information Policy (http://www.ewu.edu/new/IT/Policies.html).
STANDARD TWO: The IT literate student effectively investigates options and applies knowledge of
IT to new situations and/or diverse conditions.
Performance Indicators:
1. The IT literate student demonstrates growth in the use of IT.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
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a.
2.
3.
5.
Demonstrates the ability to explore and expand use of relevant IT software such as
word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation packages, website design
software and other appropriate software.
b. Installs compatible IT software on machine/operating system platforms with outside
assistance as needed.
c. Demonstrates ability to set up computer with basic, essential components such as
keyboard, mouse, and monitor, with outside assistance as needed.
d. Connects and operates peripheral devices such as printer and scanner with outside
assistance as needed.
e. Upgrades memory with outside assistance as needed.
f. Demonstrates competent understanding of IT networks regarding access (e.g.,
limitations, variations in procedures, transmission of information).
g. Demonstrates competent understanding of IT networks regarding security (e.g.,
authentication, restrictions, defense against eavesdropping, document protection,
virus precautions).
h. Demonstrates and articulates ethical use of IT networks and other technologies (e.g.,
personal, social, economic and legal responsibilities).
The IT literate student troubleshoots essential functions of IT hardware and software.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Recognizes when IT hardware and/or software is not functioning as expected.
b. Initiates basic remedial action.
c. Selects appropriate sources for assistance when needed.
The IT literate student selects appropriate IT to accomplish particular outcomes, many
related to specific disciplines, or to generate particular products.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Identifies and employs steps needed to select IT software or tools for a defined task.
b. Understands that a careful definition of the task is critical to appropriate software and
hardware choice.
c. Understands that software is designed for certain skill ranges and for problems
within certain complexity ranges.
d. Investigates and identifies benefits and applicability of various IT.
e. Investigates and identifies the scope of selected IT.
The IT literate student applies various IT to expand and enhance knowledge base.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Applies a variety of IT to locate data, information, and ideas
b. Applies a variety of IT to enhance information.
c. Applies a variety of IT to examine information.
d. Applies a variety of IT to present and create information.
STANDARD THREE: The IT literate student integrates IT tools with or without non-technological
tools, while maintaining task priorities.
Performance Indicators
1. The IT literate student develops plans to accomplish IT goals and tasks, using a variety of
technological and manual procedures.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Manipulates elements of IT and manual procedures to make and justify a decision,
formulate an action plan or test solutions.
b. Manipulates elements of IT and manual procedures to expand reasoning capability
by doing such things as generating ideas and contemplating imaginary scenarios or
“what if” situations.
c. Incorporates the use of IT and manual procedures to visualize and/or model possible
outcomes and solutions.
d. Identifies project goals as separate from IT capabilities.
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2.
3.
4.
The IT literate student selects from IT and manual procedures to accomplish goals and
tasks.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Uses critical thinking skills to evaluate and select the best options among IT.
b. Determines whether a manual approach enables one to accomplish goals or complete
tasks more efficiently and effectively than a technological approach.
The IT literate student integrates IT and/or manual procedures to accomplish goals and
tasks.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Explores IT hardware/software components and integrative options to choose those
options, which most efficiently accomplish goals and tasks.
b. Manipulates and assembles IT and/or manual procedures to accomplish goals and
tasks.
c. Maintains own objectives when confronted with multiple options made available
through IT.
The IT literate student monitors the use of IT and/or manual procedures to accomplish
goals and tasks.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Modifies procedures to accomplish goals and tasks as needed.
b. Adapts integration of procedures to accomplish goals and tasks as needed.
c. Recognizes when IT is not helping to accomplish what is expected and is flexible
enough to select and use alternative paths.
d. Does not allow IT to drive a project.
STANDARD FOUR: The IT literate student applies IT creatively and independently.
Performance Indicators:
1. The IT literate student applies prior knowledge to understand, adapt to, and predict
outcomes in using unfamiliar IT.
Outcomes:
The IT literate student:
a. Appraises compatibility of hardware, software, and peripheral devices.
b. Installs unfamiliar hardware or peripheral devices using prior knowledge.
c. Applies knowledge of one IT system to another, such as:
 Various operating systems.
 Various software programs (e.g., word processor to spreadsheet, spreadsheet to
statistical software, word processor to email, database to word processor, and
word processor to database).
 Various peripheral devices (e.g., hardware components, cameras, projectors, and
printers).
d. Justifies the application of certain IT for particular uses.
e. Generates products from application software unfamiliar to student.
f. Adapts IT to be used for a variety of purposes, some of which the technologies may
not have been designed for.
g. Troubleshoots IT problems by going beyond symptoms of the problem and by
isolating and identifying underlying causes.
h. Uses discipline-specific IT proficiently.
2. The IT literate student is confident enough with one’s own IT knowledge to appraise
products, claims, and sources.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Identifies exaggerated claims regarding various IT hardware and software
components.
b. Appraises the validity of hardware and software information, advertising,
descriptions, and claims to make appropriate selections.
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3.
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The IT literate student is willing and able to learn new IT.
Outcomes
The IT literate student:
a. Knows how to research and examine new IT and apply them.
b. Evaluates, recommends, and justifies the use of new IT.
c. Readily adopts and integrates new IT for one’s own use.