Content deleted Content added
mNo edit summary |
GreenC bot (talk | contribs) Rescued 2 archive links; reformat 2 links. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:USURPURL and JUDI batch #27aj |
||
| (3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{More citations needed|date=April 2015}}
The [[United Kingdom|UK]] government'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. It aimed to explore how computers could be used in schools in the UK. This was a controversial time for Conservative school policies.
Line 6 ⟶ 5:
==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 team==
Line 13 ⟶ 12:
==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 programme 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 materials==
Line 42 ⟶ 41:
*[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]
*
*{{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:Computer science education in the United Kingdom]]
| |||