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To participate and make informed decisions in today's world, a global citizen requires technological and information literacy skills that include the ability to gather, process, and manipulate data. These skills are now as essential as traditional numeracy and literacy.
British Columbia is becoming a highly computer-literate and "wired" society with a large percentage of businesses and households connected to the information highway. Information technology and the information highway are also providing new opportunities for learning. Now a student in a remote or rural area in BC can have the same access to resources as a student in a large urban centre.
Information technology is also quickly changing the way we work. Traditional jobs, such as those in the banking industry, are disappearing while new areas of economic activity, such as multimedia production, are growing rapidly. As well, how and where we work continues to evolve as technology impacts on the workplace.
Our era is marked by constant and rapid change. In the time it has taken to develop this curriculum, technology has already made significant advances; by the time the curriculum reaches the classroom, much of what is now considered state-of-the-art will be obsolete.
As well as the rapid development of new technologies that gather, organize, and share information, familiar technologies like television, telephone, and computers are evolving and being expanded by digitized information, causing a convergence of technologies.
The challenge for students and teachers is to develop an understanding of the fundamentals of information literacy and the tools required to prepare for, and participate in, an evolving information-based society. Students need to have a firm grounding in information technology for their careers, for lifelong learning, and for recreation. The Information Technology K to 12 curriculum provides students with the analytical, interpersonal, and technical skills they require to be active participants in an exciting and dynamic world.
Preparing for the Workplace
Today, new and exciting careers are being pioneered by those with the knowledge and skills to use information technology creatively, with whole industries emerging around the information technology revolution.
To meet career challenges, students must be self-reliant as well as good communicators and problem solvers. They require interpersonal, academic, and technical skills, and must demonstrate an ability to work independently and as part of a team. They also need to develop an ethical approach to the use of information. Employers in British Columbia are looking for workers who are adaptable, are committed to lifelong learning, and show strong leadership qualities. This curriculum builds these skills while ensuring that students acquire a sound knowledge of information technology.
Preparing the Citizen
To be responsible members of society, students must be aware of the ever-growing impacts of information technology. They need to reflect critically on information technology's role in society and consider its positive and negative effects. The information technology curriculum fosters the development of skills and attitudes that increase students' abilities to address the social and ethical issues of technological advancements.
Relevant to Everyone
The Information Technology K to 12 curriculum is designed to provide learning opportunities for all students. The instructional and assessment strategies described in this IRP encourage students to apply the skills and knowledge they gain to solve real-life problems. As students study information technology, they develop research and communication skills and learn how to evaluate their work.
Preparing for Further Education
The skills and knowledge covered by this curriculum will provide students with the level of information literacy they need to succeed in postsecondary education.
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Revised: January 26, 1999
