Discussion on the Impact of Computer Technology on Employment

A major issue of the impact of computers on society is the overall impact that computer technology has had on employment. There is not a generally accepted answer to the questions presented on the preceding page.

Goals for the activity:

This exercise is to inform the students of some of the complexities involved in attempting to answer the questions.

Knowledge / skills / attitudes to be developed (behavioral objectives):

After completion of this exercise students should

• have demonstrated the ability to read professional papers and discuss the conclusions presented
• be able to discuss the issues raised with a greater understanding

1. Either assign
   • one paper to be read by everyone in the class
   • one of a set of papers to be read by different groups in the class
   • each student to locate a paper on one of the question
2. Have individual students or groups of students prepare a summary of the conclusions of the paper read
3. Students (individually or in groups) present their finding to the class
4. Once all the reports are given, the class discusses the conclusions raised by the various reports

• Include this as one possible topic for a series of oral reports with different sets of students reporting on different topics.
• Use with other majors or earlier with majors but use the textbooks reference on the previous page as sources to use to create the report

Grade as usual for a report; participation in the discussion can count as part of classroom participation.

Additional remarks:

Author contact information:

William Myers
Dept. of Computer Studies
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, NC
myers@crusader.bac.edu
(704)825-6823