#703: Technological Competency: A Conceptual Model for Understanding the World Around Us

This conceptual paper describes a framework for fostering “technological competency” (TC), integrating ideas from multiple disciplines including literacies, computer science, and computer supported collaborative learning as a social practice, data literacy, AI literacy, and justice-centered computer science education. TC is the ability to (1) ask questions about technology that are relevant both personally and collectively; (2) identify, collect, and curate data to answer these questions; (3) use appropriate tools to analyze this data; and (4) report and re-evaluate this data in discussion with relevant communities. Most importantly, this should be collaborative work between learners of all kinds - researchers, practitioners, students, and other stakeholders. We conclude with practical guidelines for designers of learning experiences: stakeholder collaboration, diversity and inclusion, critical approaches, and effective communication.