A short history off-line

Emerging technologies for learning report - Article exploring the history of ICT in education and the lessons we can learn from the pas

The Right Place at the Right Time: Creative Spaces in Libraries

Purpose This essay explores the recent trend in libraries: that of the establishment of spaces specifically set aside for creative work. The rise of these dedicated creative spaces is owed to a confluence of factors that happen to be finding their expression together in recent years. This essay examines the history of these spaces and explores the factors that gave rise to them and will fuel them moving forward. Design/Methodology/Approach A viewpoint piece, this essay combines historical research and historical/comparative analyses to examine the ways by which libraries have supported creative work in the past and how they may continue to do so into the 21st century. Findings The key threads brought together include a societal recognition of the value of creativity and related skills and attributes; the philosophies, values, and missions of libraries in both their longstanding forms and in recent evolutions; the rise of participatory culture as a result of inexpensive technologies; improved means to build community and share results of efforts; and library experience and historical practice in matters related to creativity. The chapter concludes with advice for those interested in the establishment of such spaces, grounding those reflections in the author’s experiences in developing a new creative space at Virginia Commonwealth University. Originality/value While a number of pieces have been written that discuss the practicalities of developing certain kinds of creative spaces, very little has been written that situates these spaces in larger social and library professional contexts; this essay begins to fill that gap

The Infiltration of the Microcomputer in Schools in England and Wales and its Mode of Usage.

This study was carried out to investigate the manner in which this technological innovation was being implemented in a cross section of schools in England and Wales. Ultimately it was to ascertain the pedagogical approach employed, and if the promised revolution in teaching and learning procedures, attributed to the use of the microcomputer in education was forthcoming. The contribution to societal needs was also investigated, and gender differences in pupil's attitude to using the microcomputer. Suitability of chosen equipment, courseware, and problems encountered were especially sought; the result of any such problems or inefficiencies could be responsible for the efficacy or otherwise of the method. Areas where further research was required were established. The thesis is not of the hypothesis testing type, but more a series of case studies. The findings are that: (a) While the pedagogical approach mainly follows the traditional method of teaching, there is developing, in some classrooms, a change in emphasis on how children are learning. (b) Some upper schools especially, are attempting to fulfil societal needs by changing the content of computer courses. (c) While a notable difference develops in the attitude of boys and girls to using computers, girls, especially in the upper schools, are becoming more interested in specific topics that are being introduced. (d) Future educational software programs need to react intelligently to pupil's requirements; the microcomputers mainly in use at present are unsuitable. Overall they have not helped the case for computer aided learning. (g) The use of the microcomputer in the classroom is increasing and staff resistance to using it is diminishing, despite a lack of evaluation as to its effectiveness. (f) Perusal of educational software reveals the lack of systematic planning at the development stage. Further research areas would be to investigate the following: the reasons for and policies to counteract gender differences, the formulation of evaluation techniques, the possibility of the use of intelligent knowledge-based systems in the classroom

Attitudes in Physics Education: An Alternative Approach to Teaching Physics to Non-Science College Students

In this article, we present an alternative way of teaching conceptual physics for non-science majors by depicting the role of physics in today\u27s technology. The goal of this approach is to increase in the minds of non-science students the acceptance of physics as a useful component in general education, and as a major tool in comprehending the present-day technological world experienced by students outside the classroom

Assessing Computing Literacy of Business Students in a Regional University: Prospects for the 90\u27s

The requirements of computing literacy for business students who are not majoring in Management Information Systems (MIS) are changing. A survey was conducted to explore the impact of MIS courses on the perceived computing literacy of the business students in a regional university. The findings suggest that on a broader scale MIS courses provided the basis for the students to become computing literate. The majority of students applied their computer skills to other courses and of those who worked, more than half utilized their computer skills in their current job. However, students\u27 self-reported knowledge of software such as data communications and programming languages was quite low, an indication that the MIS curriculum is modeled after the conventional system emphasizing microcomputer applications packages, a system which is rapidly becoming obsolete. In addition, the contradiction observed in the responses of students regarding their perception of computing literacy and their reported knowledge levels warrants attention. Specifically, while over 70% of the students evaluated themselves as being computing literate, their confidence of their knowledge of hardware and software was quite low. Regional universities may need to re-examine their curriculum offerings in accordance with the demands of industry and changing needs of the workforce, in order to prepare graduates to meet those demands. This need is emphasized in the light of the role these universities play in providing educational opportunities for the communities surrounding them

Teacher Attitudes Toward Computer Literacy.

A survey on attitudes and perceptions toward computer technology was conducted among 464 teachers in five randomly chosen parishes in the State of Louisiana. In each parish one elementary school, one junior high or middle school, and one high school were randomly chosen. The sample included every teacher in each of the chosen schools. A total of 369 (79.5 percent) surveys were returned. The purposes of the study were to delineate, analyze, and document the reasons that teachers may avoid using computer technology. Lack of opportunity, lack of assistance, and lack of equipment and materials appeared to be the primary obstacles to teacher use of computers in schools. Findings included the following: (1) Teachers had generally positive attitudes toward computers. (2) A positive relationship appeared to exist between the educational degree possessed by a teacher and the perceptions the teacher had of computers. (3) Age, gender, teaching level, and teaching field did not appear to be significant factors in the predisposition of teachers to learn about computers. (4) A significant relationship appeared to exist between perceptions of negative factors surrounding computers and perceptions of the usefulness of computers. (5) Sixty-three percent of the teachers wanted to learn about computers at their own paces, and over 94 percent wanted to learn using the equipment and materials they will use in their jobs. In-school assistance was not available for 87.7 percent of the teachers in the sample. The following recommendations were made: (1) That individual computer training programs be made available to all teachers as part of their inservice training. (2) That computer equipment be made available to individual teachers engaged in the training programs. (3) That computer expertise be developed by teachers at various levels. (4) That software packages be developed to allow teachers to utilize classroom computer equipment while building computer skills. (5) That research be conducted to determine needs of individual teachers regarding content and emphasis of programs and depth of computer expertise

A resource guide to physical science/physics software for the Apple II, Atari, Pet, and TRS-80

The purpose of this resource guide is to present a list of the software available for high school physical science/physics for the four most popular microcomputers: Apple II, Pet, TRS-80, and Atari. The resource guide will consist of the following: 1. A list and description of the high school physical science/physics software available for AISD teachers in the various Resource Centers. 2. A list and description of the commercial software for high school physical science/physics. 3. Checklists for evaluating computer instructional programs. 4. An annotated bibliography of microcomputer publications.Science and Mathematics Educatio