A forum for educational computer users

Abstract

NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-TWO was 'Information Technology Year'. During it, the Government, through the offices of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Education and Science (DES), poured literally millions of pounds into commerce, industry and education in an attempt to stimulate and support computer use. In education, for example, every secondary school was encouraged to buy its own microcomputer, with part of the purchase being funded ,through a DES scheme (which has now been expanded to cover every primary school 'ln the country). Many in-service courses have been held for teachers interested in the use of computers in the curriculum, and there seems to be much interest and enthusiasm in this application. The British Government is not alone in its wish to encourage 'computer literacy' in society: the US Senate is currently debating bills which, if they are passed, will go a long way to stimulating computer literacy in America by encouraging computer companies to donate computers for state schools, and also by allowing private individuals to set part of the purchase cost of their home computers against tax. Another example: in France the Government there has, over the past decade supported the use of the computer in its educational system by massive (and serious) in-service training, by provision of equipment, and by a national system for developing and distributing good quality teaching materials. So what is it about the computer that makes it attractive to teachers? What part can it play in the day-to-day job of teaching and learning? For a start, it can . make the organisation of teaching much easier. The recording and maintenance of student records, generation of testsand their marking--can all be done using the computer in its computer-managed learning (CML) mode. This probably will be one of the first uses that the computer is put to in the schools of nursing. An even more important use of the computer is possible if we consider its applications in its computer assisted learning (CAL) mode. There is already a lot of