presentations, producing products,
and so on. Nowadays, information
and computer technology is routinely thoroughly integrated into
the professional work of people
who have and make use of expertise in any of the academic areas.
As we begin a yearlong look at ISTE
and NECC, we’d like to share some of
the best kernels from Moursund’s writings because we think they illustrate
not only the rapid progression of technology over three decades, but also the
prophesy and foresight of one of the
pioneers of education technology.
Moursund: “Work toward developing
a student’s level of computer literacy
should begin in grade school. As a
simple example, when a child is learning to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, the child could also be learning
that machines (for example, electronic
calculators) can perform these same
operations, often cheaper and more
accurately than people.”
Tech fact: Robert Kahn and Vinton
Cerf publish a paper outlining the
protocols of the Internet. The first
Universal Product Code, or bar code,
is scanned on a pack of chewing gum
in the United States.
In the world: U.S. President Richard
Nixon resigns in the wake of the
Watergate scandal. Boston’s public
schools begin busing students to
achieve racial diversity. Scientists
warn that aerosol sprays will deplete
the ozone and lead to global weather
changes.
Celebrating
Years
Moursund: “By the time elementary
school students come to seek a career,
massive changes will have occurred
due to computers (among other
things). The teacher should be aware
of how computers are affecting careers and educational training needs,
and orient students to this changing
world concept.… Elementary school
students should be oriented toward
a world in which computer-assisted
communication and information retrieval are commonplace.”
Tech fact: Apple Computers incorporates under Steven Jobs and Steve
Wozniak and unveils the Apple II, the
first pre-assembled, mass-produced
PC. AT&T installs the first fiber-optic
cable. RCA sells a videocassette recorder for $1,000.
In the world: Jimmy Carter becomes
president of the United States. The mini-series Roots is broadcast in the United
States. Leonid Brezhnev is named president of the USSR. Elvis Presley is found
dead of a drug overdose at 42.
Moursund: “My conclusion is that the
computers-in-education movement
faces a very difficult future…. Will
students learn to use computers as a
tool in coping with the problems of
their disciplines? … The time is now
ripe to hold some national working
conferences on the role of computers
in the various subject-matter disciplines. How should math, business,
social studies, science, art, or English
change because of computers? Who
will develop the content? Who will
train the teachers?”
Tech fact: Sharp releases a handheld
computer that sells for $123 and measures 6. 9" x 2. 8" x 0.6". The 59-key
keyboard is designed for writing
BASIC language programs.
In the world: The U.S. Department of
Education is created. Poland’s Solidarity becomes the first independent
labor union in the Soviet bloc. John
Lennon is shot and killed outside his
New York City apartment.
Moursund: “If our technologically oriented society continues, then eventually computers will be commonplace.
Children will grow up in homes,
schools, and neighborhoods in which
everyone uses computers. Computerized information retrieval, word
processing, and problem solving will
be as widely used as paper and pencil
techniques are today.”
Tech fact: IBM predicts it will sell
200,000 microcomputers in North
America in 1982, while Apple and
Radio Shack expect to sell a total of
350,000 microcomputers.
In the world: Ronald Reagan is president of the United States, where the
median household income is $20,000.
Leonid Brezhnev, Soviet leader, dies.
Moursund: “High tech is shrinking
the world, populations continue to
increase, and the people of this planet
are becoming more interdependent.
To me this suggests our educational
system needs to combine high tech
with high touch. The high-tech aspect of our current era indicates that
we need a number of highly trained,
