Why should students learn to use computers and software competently, and how do we choose what they learn and how? Technology is present in every part of our daily lives, whether it is personal matters, work or educational activities. Most people agree that it is necessary for younger generations to understand how computers work for them. However, there is still a slight discrepancy as to what computer skills are needed to apply to middle/high school students and what they need to master to ensure survival once they leave high school. Is a student considered computer literate if he or she can? play video games, chat online and surf the Internet? Is it necessary for high school students to learn how to use documents, spreadsheets, or presentation software in a formal classroom? What sufficient skills do high school students need to prepare for entry to college or the workforce? The computer skills that high school students must master are often misunderstood, and learning how to use the computer productively is often overlooked in comparison to knowing how to use a computer for Internet and social purposes. Only a small number of high school students are proficient in using computers for projects, presentations, and calculations. Students need to learn to be more computer scientists because that is what they will do most of the time once they graduate. It is essential that high school students master the following computer skills:1. Basic Troubleshooting: Computer literacy can also be measured by a student's knowledge of how to keep their computers functioning in the most basic sense. Knowing what to do if the computer won't turn on, the Internet is... middle of paper... so many other skills they should know. This includes the creation of documents, presentations and electronic documents in which data can be collected, manipulated and used in calculations. The software that students learn is the most common document creation, calculation, and presentation software used in business and the public called Microsoft Office. Students who enroll in this course are usually freshmen and have been encouraged by their parents or counselors to take the course before graduating. The lack of available economics teachers at Corvallis High School keeps the census low; however, a similar school in Salem-Keizer has 2-3 keyboard lessons each semester. In some schools the course is required to help students become more proficient in the skills described above. One school that does this in the Mid-Willamette Valley is Lebanon High School.