My Work among the Keyboards: Remembering the Early Use of Computers in the Classroom

Abstract

This paper reflects on the early use of computers in school. It begins with an account of the author’s own introduction to computing, while a school student himself, and his first attempts to teach computing and information technology courses. The next section of the paper describes his enthusiasm for teaching in another school and the challenge of engaging students’ interest. The teaching of Logo is then described in a third section and a following section discusses a project to promote the use of data handling with computers. The paper concludes by reflecting on: the role of computer studies in the curriculum; the romantic versus rationalist view of technology; the purpose of schools and schooling; and the unpredictability of the take-up of computing. It makes an appeal for schools to provide children with an opportunity to reflect on their own use of technology.