Re: What's happening in schools?

[fh18@cuok.cameron.edu (Thomas A. Compter)]

Adrian Vance (avsystem@rain.org) wrote:
>    We have been in the educational software business for a long time, 
> having started in the filmstrip business in 1960, and we have made many 
> math and science simulations, tutorials, etc., but hear that Mac and IBM 
> computers are not being used in this way in the classrooms.  We hear that 
> most of these computers are used in administration, attendence tracking, 
> by teachers and those in the computer labs are used for teaching 
> "Keyboarding (typing)" or word processing; period.
>    What is happening in your schools and do you have any hard data with 
> regard to the use of computers in the classrooms today.  Just yesterday, 
> for example, I was told by an executive at a leading educational mailing 
> list company that Apple II is "still the big shipper in computer 
> software" and the computer has not been made for one year!
>    What is your experience?  And, thank you, Adrian Vance, CEO, AV 
> Systems, Inc., Santa Barbara, California

In my daughter's Jr. High School, in Lawton Oklahoma, they are using
computers of all types in many ways.  In fact, my daughter is enrolled
in two courses where she uses computers on a daily basis. 
The first is the "Computer Literacy" Course, where they are using MACs 
learn basic keyboarding (read "Typing 101") skills.
    The other is a "Technology Today" course, which has a lab of about
    25 computers of all types, (IBMs, MACs, Apple IIs, ATARIs) with each
    one running a different simulation or other program so that the kids
    can learn about different technologies (Not just computer technologoes,
    but different technologies used in the workplace today)

I think it's a pretty worthwhile course.  Each student spends a week at
each "Station" and they turn in a report at the end of the week of 
what they learned. 

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