Microelectronics Education Programme: Difference between revisions

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The [[United Kingdom|UK]] Governmentgovernment's '''Microelectronics Education Programme''' ran from 1980 to 1986. It was conceived and planned by a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] government and set up under a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] government during [[Margaret Thatcher|Mrs Thatcher]]'s era. ItsIt aim wasaimed to explore how computers could be used in schools in the UK. This was a controversial time for Conservative school policies.[1]

The programme was administered by the [[Council for Educational Technology]] in [[London]], but the directorate operated, unusually, from a semi-detached house on the Coach Lane Campus of the then Newcastle Polytechnic (now [[Northumbria University]]).

==Origins==

The Microelectronics Education Programme was developed by the Department for Education and Science when the Prime Minister at the time, Jim Callaghan asked each government department to draw up an action plan to meet the challenge of new technologies.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.edtechhistory.org.uk/history/the_1980s/MEP.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141107124904/http://www.edtechhistory.org.uk/history/the_1980s/MEP.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=November 7, 2014 | title=Educational Technology v1 Feb 2014 }}</ref> Whilst the prior programme, the [[National Development Programme in Computer Aided Learning]], covered schools, colleges, universities and training establishments, MEP was specifically aimed at secondary schools in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (a primary school programme was added in 1982). Following a change of government in 1979, Keith Joseph as Education Secretary finally approved the proposal in 1980 and in March a four-year programme for schools, costing £9 million. was announced by the Under Secretary of State at the Department of Education and Science, Mr Neil MacFarlane. <ref>Fothergill (1988) Implications of New Technology for the School Curriculum (London, Kogan Page) page 28</ref>

==Central Teamteam==

The Directordirector of the programme was Richard Fothergill, a man of vision and passion for the concept of bringing computers to schools. By April 1981 he had set up a small team of seven people, operating from offices at Cheviot House in Newcastle Polytechnic.<ref>Fothergill, R. (1982) 'The Microelectronics Education Programme' in (eds.) J. Megarry, D.R.F. Walker and S Nisbet, World Year Book of Education:Computers and Education, Kogan Page reprinted 2006</ref> John Anderson was appointed Deputy, and the rest of the central team consisted of Bob Coates, Helen MilnerHindess, Mike Bostock and Lynn Craig later supported by Mike Page for Press and Media, Bill Broderick for International, and Alan Greenwell and Ralph Tabberer for Curriculum Development. The information collection and dissemination was carried out by the information officer who used an early form of [[Teletext]] (called [[Prestel]]) and email (called [[Telecom Gold]]) to disseminate news of materials and training opportunities. Each member of staff created correspondence (see Old Computers link below) on a handheld wordprocessorword processor, a [[Microwriter]], designed by [[Cy Endfield]].

==Strategy==

Richard Fothergill published MEP's strategy in April 1981, having been appointed in the previous November. It had a number of innovative ideas in it, including a wide definition of its work covering computer aided learning, computer studies, microelectronics and information handling and a strong emphasis on regional collaboration.

<ref>Fothergill R., 1981, Microelectronics Education Programme: The Strategy, Department of Education and Science, London</ref> The aim of the Programmeprogramme was to help schools to prepare children for life in a society in which devices and systems based on microelectronics are commonplace and pervasive.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.edtechhistory.org.uk/history/the_1980s/MEP_strategy.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923233814/http://www.edtechhistory.org.uk/history/the_1980s/MEP_strategy.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=September 23, 2015 | title=Educational Technology v1 Feb 2014 }}</ref>

==Curriculum Materialsmaterials==

Educational materials were initially devised by teachers for teachers, financed by the [[Department of Education and Science (UK)|Department of Education and Science]] of England, Northern Ireland and Wales. It was common to see written on various books and leaflets that the aims of the programme were to 'promote, within the school curriculum, the study of [[microelectronics]] and its effects, and to encourage the use of the technology as an aid to teaching and learning'.

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By 1982, the [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]] became involved and began to introduce computers in the secondary schools, later the primary schools.<ref>Dalyell T., (1984), New Scientist August 30th 1984</ref> Teams of teachers, programmers and publishers worked hard to develop software to run on a variety of machines. The two most popular were [[Acorn Computers]] and [[RM plc|Research Machines]] computers. The [[Sinclair Research Ltd|Sinclair]] [[ZX Spectrum]] was used in a variety of situations, very often for control projects, such as teaching children how traffic lights worked.

==Regional Structurestructure==

14Fourteen Regionalregional Informationinformation Centrescentres were set up around the UK to demonstrate materials to local teachers. There was one information officer, one director and a number of training coordinators per region.

The focus for the training was split into four 'domains': -
# the Computer as a Device (exploring and developing Computer Science as a subject);
# Communications and Information Systems (looking at the electronic office and developing a Business Studies theme);
# Electronics and Control Technology (developing devices and resources to support Science and Technology subjects); and
# Computer Based Learning (looking and developing how uses of technology could support teaching and learning right through and across the whole curriculum).

==Primary Project==

Originally conceived as a programme to develop secondary education, it was soon perceived that many primary schools were ready to adopt new methodologies. A National Primary Project was established, which developed a substantial amount of high class resources that were the basis for significant curriculum development. The young children, and many primary school teachers, were enthusiastic and used the computer as a tool. There was often only one computer per school, and it was on a trolley which could be moved to wherever it was required. Children were then familiar with it as a tool, a resource, not as an item which they might find at home, as is the case today. Richard Fothergill predicted the computer would become pervasive in society.

==Closure==

The Programmeprogramme's closure was announced in June 1985 and a successor organisation the [[Microelectronics Education Support Unit]] was announced .<ref>Fothergill (1988) Implications of New Technology for the School Curriculum (London, Kogan Page) page 28</ref> The programme continued until 1986 and was formally evaluated by Her Majesty's Inspectorate in 1986that year.<ref>HMI (1986), The Work of the Microelectronics Education Programme, London: DES reported in Studies in Design Education, Craft and Technology Volume 19 Number 3 Summer 1987</ref> HMI reported "The MEP years will be remembered by those directly involved, and by most of those on its periphery, as a time of creativity and fruitful development. There was a new found and remarkable enthusiasm for IT and its potential impact on all phases and many aspects of the curriculum." Whilst the programmeProgramme was running it attracted world attention and was highly commended.

==References==

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*[http://education.guardian.co.uk/obituary/story/0,12212,1351297,00.html Guardian obituary of Richard Fothergill]

*[http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=558 Description of Microwriter]

*{{Cite web | url=http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=558 | title=Microwriter | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044436/http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=558 | archive-date=2019-03-06}}

*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6217447.stm BBC Micro and Professor Hopper]

* [httphttps://www.educationenglandeducation-uk.org.uk/history/chapter05.html Education in the UK: a history]

*{{Cite web | url=http://www.naec.org.uk/organisations/the-microelectronics-education-programme/the-microelectronics-education-programme-strategy | title=The Microelectronics Education Programme Strategy | website=www.naec.org.uk }}

[[Category:EducationComputer science education in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Educational technology projects]]

[[Category:Governmental educational technology organizations]]

[[Category:Science and technology in Tyne and Wear]]

[[Category:United Kingdom educational programs]]

[[Category:E-learning]]