Abstract
The purpose of business education is to work cooperatively with the business community to prepare all students to live and work as productive citizens in a changing global society by providing essential business experiences, education, and training. Computer operations are a major part of business education programs. Students learn to operate computers in a modern computer lab using a variety of software that includes word processing, spreadsheet, database, accounting, and desktop publishing. This allows individuals to acquire, develop, and apply academic knowledge and skills. The objectives of the chapter is to discuss how technology competencies taught in business education provide individuals a foundation to work and live as productive citizens in a changing global economy. The author also explores the role of educators in preparing business education students for employment, technology competences, lifelong learning skills, and community responsibility.
Key Terms in this Chapter
E-Commerce: An integral part of e-commerce is the capability of connecting to consumers electronically throughout the world by means of the Internet. E-commerce is a relatively new marketplace phenomenon that has resulted in considerable interest among the corporate world as well as business educators. A considerable number of graduates of business education programs are likely to find employment in an electronic working environment designed to enhance the speed and convenience of business transactions. Business educators are considering ways to bring more e-commerce topics into courses to better prepare students for business world to encompass the realities of this emerging business model.
Business Ethics: Business ethics are a hot topic these days with everything from insider trading to employee information hacking on the rise. These events around the world have heightened everyone’s awareness of ethical business practices and white collar crimes. It is no wonder that business educators are beginning to focus on the impact of ethical practices.
Computer Operations: Computer operations are a major part of the business education programs. Students learn to operate computers in a modern computer lab using a variety of software that includes word processing, spreadsheet, database, accounting, and desktop publishing.
Office Technology: In the modern office technology courses of business education curriculum, students will be using computer hardware and software to learn the process of dealing with graphics, electronic calculators, desktop publishing, information processing, word text processing, data processing, time and task management, management support, computer-assisted drawing (CAD), and Internet literacy.
Technologies for Performance Support: A variety of hard and soft technologies for performance support have been designed to help people perform their jobs better. These include various support systems such as information-help systems, procedural support systems, and better designed work tools as well as models and theories about performance causes and interventions.
Office Procedures: Students complete a wide variety of office procedures that include ways to contribute to office safety and productivity; selecting appropriate professional behavior in office situations; demonstrating effective telephone techniques; identifying banking services; demonstrating the ability to sort, log, and route incoming mail; preparing outgoing mail and applying appropriate services, classes, and rates; applying indexing and alphabetic, numerical, subject, and geographical filing rules and procedures; demonstrating the use, identification, and purchasing of office supplies; and schedule travel arrangements, prepare travel itineraries, and complete expense reports. Business students participate in scenarios utilizing various workplace office technology.
Job Shadowing: Job shadowing is a common school-sponsored career exploration activity to let students learn in authentic settings. It is usually a short-term, school-supervised, workplace learning opportunity with an emphasis on exploration, not work.