Microcomputers: Media or Mania

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Microcomputers: Media or Mania
Language: English
Authors: Lopez, Antonio M.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 1982
Intended Audience: Support Staff; Practitioners
Document Type: Information Analyses
Opinion Papers
Speeches/Meeting Papers
Descriptors: Adoption (Ideas), Computer Assisted Instruction, Computer Managed Instruction, Computer Programs, Databases, Microcomputers, Programing Languages, Technological Advancement
Abstract: In examining microcomputer uses in education, consideration must be given to hardware, software, and most importantly, the people who will use them. The educational software market is being affected by hardware manufacturers, educational publishers, independent software houses, user groups, and classroom teachers. Each of these groups has clearly defined (and not necessarily compatible) objectives for producing software. Problems in software evaluation include the need for a software classification system for educational purposes. One possible classification system could begin by categorizing educational software as administrative software, computer assisted instruction (CAI) software, or programming languages, and subdividing these categories. Hardware aspects include the use of dedicated processors, as in video games and interactive video peripherals. Articles on educational media have increasingly focused on microcomputers because of their decreased costs and size, and their increased capabilities. As computers have become essential to modern communications systems, so communications systems have become essential to provide access to databases of information throughout the country. We must be reasonable in our approach to the media and be aware of the mania that can lead to intellectual irresponsibility. (LMM)
Entry Date: 1984
Accession Number: ED234751
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:In examining microcomputer uses in education, consideration must be given to hardware, software, and most importantly, the people who will use them. The educational software market is being affected by hardware manufacturers, educational publishers, independent software houses, user groups, and classroom teachers. Each of these groups has clearly defined (and not necessarily compatible) objectives for producing software. Problems in software evaluation include the need for a software classification system for educational purposes. One possible classification system could begin by categorizing educational software as administrative software, computer assisted instruction (CAI) software, or programming languages, and subdividing these categories. Hardware aspects include the use of dedicated processors, as in video games and interactive video peripherals. Articles on educational media have increasingly focused on microcomputers because of their decreased costs and size, and their increased capabilities. As computers have become essential to modern communications systems, so communications systems have become essential to provide access to databases of information throughout the country. We must be reasonable in our approach to the media and be aware of the mania that can lead to intellectual irresponsibility. (LMM)