National Development Programme in Computer Aided Learning: Difference between revisions

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The '''National Development Programme in Computer Aided Learning''' (NDPCAL) was the earliest government funded education programme in the UK that explored the use of computers for teaching. It was first proposed to the [[Department of Education and Science]] by the National Council for Educational Technology in 1969, [[Richard Hooper (civil servant)|Richard Hooper]] was appointed its Director and operated with a small central team administered by the Council for Educational Technology . It ran from 1973 to 1977, spending £2.5M to support some 35 projects covering a range of subjects in schools, colleges, universities, industrial and military training.<ref>Hooper R., 1975, Two years On, National Development Programme in Computer Aided Learning, Report of the Director, London: CET</ref>

==Origins==

During the 1960s and early 1970s various innovative projects in the USA and the UK using mainframe and mini-computers began to develop the field of Computer Aided Learning and there was much debate about its value and effectiveness.<ref>Annett J. and Duke J.,1970, Proceedings of a Seminar on Computer Based Learning Systems, London:NCET</ref> The National Council for Educational Technology provided advice to government in 1969 for a national development programme<ref>http://www.edtechhistory.org.uk/history/the_1960s/orig_NCET.html</ref>

It was four years later that the Department for Education and Science (DES) following much discussion amongst the interested departments and an intervening general election, announced the approval by the Secretary of State ([[Mrs Thatcher]]) to a 'national development programme in computer assisted learning' in a DES press release dated 23 May 1972.

Following the announcement of the Programme the post of Director was advertised.and [[Richard Hooper (civil servant)|Richard Hooper]], BBC Senior Producer in the Faculty of Educational Studies at the Open University was selected.

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Stage 4 - Assimilation and Dissemination - national funding is being phased out and the institution has taken ownership with other new institutions taking it up.

About half the project funds were spent on projects in universities and polytechnics, about one-sixth of the project funds was spent on schools based projects and the rest on military and industrial training. Some of the projects are listed below. <ref>For a full list ofand projectstheir details see http://www.edtechhistory.org.uk/history/the_1970s/ndpcal_projects.html</ref>.

==Some Specific Projects==

===Computer Based Learning Project, Leeds University===

Director: J.R. Hartley

A computer-based statistics service course involving 500 students from 10 different disciplines in 3 institutions (University of Leeds, Leeds Polytechnic and the University of Bradford). The Leeds Modular One computer with 44 teletypes terminals was used as a statistical laboratory, providing real illustrations of statistical concepts, testing students' comprehension and giving some remedial teaching.

===Computer Assisted Learning in Engineering Sciences===

Funded for 2 years from 1.10.73 at a cost of £49,672

Director: Dr. P.R. Smith Faculty of Engineering, Computer Assisted Teaching Unit, Queen Mary College.

The project involved nuclear, mechanical and electrical engineering at QMC, mechanical engineering at Imperial College, and electrical engineering at University College London, using QMC's PDP ll/40 with 6 Tektronix 4010 and 6 teletype terminals, Imperial CoIlege's CDC 6400 (in batch mode), and UCL's IBM 360/65 with a Computek 300 terminal. The project focussed on the development of simulation packages, the determination of cost, and the transferability of packages.

===Computer Assisted Learning in Chemistry===

Funded for 2 years from 1.4.74 at a cost of £64,750

Director: Dr. P.B. Ayscough Dept. of Physical Chemistry, The University of Leeds.

A co-operative of 8 institutions in higher education developed computer assisted learning materials for use in theoretical and experimental chemistry courses involving about 600 students. Two production teams of chemists and programmers were based at Leeds University and Sheffield Polytechnic respectively. They enabled students- on an individual basis- to study in a systematic manner the factors involved in the design of laboratory experiments and to evaluate the results of such experiments.

===Computers in the Undergraduate Science Curriculum===

Director: Dr. I. McKenzie, University College London

Funded for 2 years from 1.1.74 at a cost of £67,861.

The main aim of this study was to investigate and develop methods and materials for using computers in undergraduate science education, in computation, simulation and to enrich teaching and learning. Physicists, biologists, chemists and educational technologists from 12 academic departments at University College, Chelsea College and Surrey University.

===Hertfordshire Computer Managed Mathematics===

Funded for 2 years from 1.10.73 at a cost of £50,368.

Director: Dr. W.Tagg, Advisory Unit for Computer Based Education

This was the development of a computer managed system for teaching mixed ability mathematics in the first two years of comprehensive schooling beginning with 650 pupils at 4 schools in Hertfordshire. As Tagg<ref>Tagg, B, 1977, Computer Managed Learning in Herfordshire, British Journal of Educational Technology, 8-3 p235-241.</ref> points out using the computer to manage ways of providing a mixed ability group of students with individualised material was attractive. A new mathematics course was developed with the emphasis on individualised worksheets in addition to live teaching and the use of videotaped materials. The computer marked tests and prescribed which worksheets the child should undertake next.By 1976-77 the project had grown to 12 secondary schools, 3000 students and 80 teachers in Hertfordshire together with two schools in London and one in Bolton.

===* Computer Based Learning Project on Applied Statistics for Social Science, Leeds University=== - Director: J.R. Hartley

* Computer Assisted Learning in Engineering Sciences Director: Dr. P.R. Smith Faculty of Engineering, Computer Assisted Teaching Unit, Queen Mary College.

* Computer Assisted Learning in Chemistry Director: Dr. P.B. Ayscough Dept. of Physical Chemistry, The University of Leeds.

===* Computers in the Undergraduate Science Curriculum=== Director: Dr. I. McKenzie, University College London

* Hertfordshire Computer Managed Mathematics in Schools Director: Dr. W.Tagg, Advisory Unit for Computer Based Education

==Evaluation==

Evaluation was an important part of NDPCAL's approach. It set up two independent evaluations as well as building in evaluation through its regular project reviews and assessments. The two independent evaluations were an educational evaluation carried out by the University of East Anglia and a financial evaluation by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co.

===Educational Evaluation===

This was carried out by Barry MacDonald and a team from the [[University of East Anglia]] running a three year evaluation project - UNCAL ( 'Understanding Computer Assisted Learning). MacDonald<ref>MacDonald B., 1977, The Educational Evaluation of NDPCAL, British Journal of Educational Technology, 8-3 p176-189.</ref> reports some findings about CAL in general:

# It is the versatility of the computer as an aid that assures its educational future

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# Large scale applications of CAL require full-time staff and regular computer time.

== NDPCAL - The National Development Programme in Computer Aided Learning ==

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==References==