Computers in Virginia's public high schools

Abstract

In 1984 the Virginia Department of Education released a series of guidelines for the use of computers in Virginia's public schools [1]. The recommendations covered areas such as planning, selection of hardware and software, staff development, general objectives for the Commonwealth's required computer literacy program, potential uses of computers in instruction, and course offerings in computer science. This study was designed to provide schools, colleges and vendors with information about the progress which has been made in integrating computers into public instruction in Virginia. In addition, it attempted to identify some of the problems and needs of the schools. Four areas were examined: (1) the extent to which Virginia's public high schools have adopted the state's recommendations for instructional uses of computers: (2) difficulties which school systems have experienced with hardware and software; (3) characteristics of the personnel who are currently teaching computer skills; and (4) the training which school personnel believe should be given to teachers, especially those having responsibility for delivering computer related instruction.