Technology In Action, Complete (4th Edition) (Go!) (Paperback)

by Alan Evans (Author), Kendall Martin (Author), Mary Anne Poatsy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For introductory courses in computer concepts or computer literacy often including instruction in Microsoft Office.

 

A Computer Concepts Text Focused on Today’s Student! Technology in Action engages students by combining a unique teaching approach with rich companion media.

About the Author
Three professors from Montgomery County Community College traveled with the Prentice Hall Information Technology team for over two years to uncover what students and professors today wanted and needed in an Intro to Computer Concepts text. After meeting with more than 1,000 students and instructors and developed Technology in Action. Due to overwhelming success, they recently published Technology in Action 2/e!

Alan D. Evans, M.S., CPA
Alan is currently the director of computer science for Montgomery County Community College. Alan’s parents instilled in him a love of education at an early age. After a successful career in business, Alan finally realized his true calling was education. He  has been a teacher and an administrator at the collegiate level for the past five years. Alan makes presentations at technical conferences and meets regularly with computer science faculty and administrators from other colleges to discuss curriculum development. Currently, he is researching computer literacy standards for college freshmen.

Kendall E. Martin, Ph.D.
Kendall has been teaching since 1988 at a number of institutions, including Villanova University, DeSales University, Arcadia University, Ursinus College, County College of Morris, and Montgomery County Community College, at both the undergraduate and master’s degree level. Kendall’s education includes a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. She has industrial experience in research and development environments (AT&T Bell Laboratories) as well as experience from several start-up technology firms. At Ursinus College, Kendall developed a successful faculty training program for distance education instructors, and she makes conference presentations during the year.

Mary Anne Poatsy, MBA, CFP
Mary Anne is an adjunct faculty member at Montgomery County Community College, teaching various computer application and concepts courses in face-to-face and online environments. Mary Anne holds a B.A. in Psychology and Elementary Education from Mount Holyoke College and an MBA in Finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Mary Anne has more than nine years of educational experience, ranging from elementary and secondary education to Montgomery County Community College, Muhlenberg College, and Bucks County Community College, as well as training in the professional environment. Prior to teaching, Mary Anne was a vice president at Shearson Lehman Hutton in the Muncipal Bond Investment Banking department.

Product Details

• Paperback: 704 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (January 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0132253569
• ISBN-13: 978-0132253567
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #191,769 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My choice for an "Introduction to Computers" text, February 17, 2008

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Technology in Action, Complete (Go!) (Paperback)

There are many books that could be used in the introduction to computers level of classes. They tend to be very similar, in topics, order and structure. While this book is more of the same, there is one feature that stands out, the coverage of ethics in the context of computing. Ethics and the proper usage of computers is a significant aspect of the computing culture for all of us, but it is more significant for the college student. The advent of the Internet has made it much easier to obtain information and harder to filter it for accuracy. It is now much easier to plagiarize; all you have to do is copy and paste. Fortunately, it is also easier for instructors to identify an act of plagiarism; there are websites that will do it for you. The digitization of music makes it easy to download and play music on MP3 players. This list could continue for some time.
There are several places in the book where ethical principles are related to the topic. It is to the credit of the authors that this coverage is not just a spouting of facts; the questions are designed to have the students think about the situation and reach their own ethical conclusions.
This book is superior to the companion introductory volume with the same name. It contains more material than the introductory volume and all other things being equal I prefer to skip rather to supplement.
It is most unlikely that I will ever teach an introductory course in computing again. However, if I was to do so, I would take a hard look at this book, it is suitable for the course and I would most certainly adopt it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Introduction to Computers, January 29, 2008

By	College Professor (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Technology in Action, Complete (Go!) (Paperback)

Technology in Action is a great book for college-level computer concepts classes. I have taught with Technology in Action at a community college for 4 years now. The book is written to engage today's students with a very useful question and answer format. I find my students are reading again since using Technology in Action!

My students also love the multimedia that comes on the CD (packaged with the text) which they describe as entertaining, informative and fun! Wow, students who think learning is fun...what a concept!

I highly recommend this text for freshman and sophomore computer concepts classes. This is a book your students will read and enjoy!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Technology In Action review, September 28, 2008

By	Barry W. Peel "computer novice" (Lancaster, Ky.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Technology in Action, Complete (Go!) (Paperback)

Too technical; I was expecting a manual to lead me "by the hand" through basic nd often elementary computer programs such as "Word." Ecellent for Geeks" but not fo beginners. Disappointed