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26-732: The programme was administered by the Council for Educational Technology in London , but the directorate operated, unusually, from a semi-detached house on the Coach Lane Campus of the then Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University ). The Microelectronics Education Programme was developed by the Department for Education and Science when the Prime Minister at the time, Jim Callaghan asked each government department to draw up an action plan to meet

52-464: A handheld word processor, a Microwriter , designed by Cy Endfield . Richard Fothergill published MEP's strategy in April 1981, having been appointed in the previous November. It had a number of innovative ideas in it, including a wide definition of its work covering computer aided learning, computer studies, microelectronics and information handling and a strong emphasis on regional collaboration. The aim of

78-508: A number of training coordinators per region. The focus for the training was split into four 'domains': Originally conceived as a programme to develop secondary education, it was soon perceived that many primary schools were ready to adopt new methodologies. A National Primary Project was established, which developed a substantial amount of high class resources that were the basis for significant curriculum development. The young children, and many primary school teachers, were enthusiastic and used

104-409: A resource pack for each to provide each with support in their local authority work. Some of National Curriculum History Following legislation in 1988 schools had become more autonomous in making their own purchasing and staffing decisions. Of substantial importance was the inclusion of IT as a key component of the national curriculum for every student aged 5 to 16. This identified for the first time

130-550: A successor organisation the Microelectronics Education Support Unit was announced. The programme continued until 1986 and was formally evaluated by Her Majesty's Inspectorate in that year. HMI reported "The MEP years will be remembered by those directly involved, and by most of those on its periphery, as a time of creativity and fruitful development. There was a new found and remarkable enthusiasm for IT and its potential impact on all phases and many aspects of

156-463: A variety of machines. The two most popular were Acorn Computers and Research Machines computers. The Sinclair ZX Spectrum was used in a variety of situations, very often for control projects, such as teaching children how traffic lights worked. Fourteen regional information centres were set up around the UK to demonstrate materials to local teachers. There was one information officer, one director and

182-534: Is supported by the Council for Educational Technology for the United Kingdom, it nevertheless reflects an independent, and not official view, of developments or opinions on educational technology. BJET continued through the decades and is now published by Blackwell and continues to publish academic articles on educational technology. Importantly its back numbers chronicle much of the history of educational technology in

208-415: The UK and elsewhere. During the late 1960s computers were beginning to make an impact on education and John Duke, the Council's newly appointed assistant Director proposed a major initiative in computer-based learning. The Council set up a Working Party to investigate the potential role of the computer and to outline a programme of research and development. Following a feasibility study the Council set out

234-424: The UK. Initially it consisted of a large council of experts with a small administrative team whose purpose was to "advise educational services and industrial training organisations on the use of audio visual aids and media" but it quickly became more than this, developing projects, producing an academic journal BJET and advising government on setting up major computer aided learning programmes ( NDPCAL and MEP ). It

260-474: The case for a 5-year programme in 'computer-based learning' in 1969. The Government, following much discussion amongst the interested departments and an intervening general election, announced the approval of Mrs Thatcher, Secretary of State for Education and Science to a ' National Development Programme in Computer Aided Learning ' in a DES press release dated 23 May 1972. During the late 1970s, with

286-550: The challenge of new technologies. Whilst the prior programme, the National Development Programme in Computer Aided Learning , covered schools, colleges, universities and training establishments, MEP was specifically aimed at secondary schools in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (a primary school programme was added in 1982). Following a change of government in 1979, Keith Joseph as Education Secretary finally approved

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312-451: The computer as a tool. There was often only one computer per school, and it was on a trolley which could be moved to wherever it was required. Children were then familiar with it as a tool, a resource, not as an item which they might find at home, as is the case today. Richard Fothergill predicted the computer would become pervasive in society. The programme's closure was announced in June 1985 and

338-514: The curriculum." Whilst the Programme was running it attracted world attention and was highly commended. Council for Educational Technology The Council for Educational Technology (originally called the National Council for Educational Technology (NCET) but reformed as the Council for Educational Technology (CET) in 1972) was set up in 1967 by the Department of Education and Science in

364-416: The deployment of 600 advisory teachers and the provision of hardware in schools through the payment of Education Support Grants (ESGs) to local authorities. Grants were made conditional on each LEA producing a policy statement and a five-year plan. MESU ran separate national conferences for the different subject advisory teachers, Mathematics, English, Science, Design and Technology and others. pulling together

390-570: The former and 4 members appointed by the latter. In addition, assessors from eight government departments and educational bodies attended meetings. In 1973, as a result of the recommendations of the Hudson Working Party the Council was a representative body, consisting of 59 people. Tony Becher was the first Director appointed from the Nuffield Foundation Geoffrey Hubbard was appointed as Director in June 1969. He

416-457: The programme was to help schools to prepare children for life in a society in which devices and systems based on microelectronics are commonplace and pervasive. Educational materials were initially devised by teachers for teachers, financed by the Department of Education and Science of England, Northern Ireland and Wales. It was common to see written on various books and leaflets that the aims of

442-430: The programme were to 'promote, within the school curriculum, the study of microelectronics and its effects, and to encourage the use of the technology as an aid to teaching and learning'. By 1982, the Department of Trade and Industry became involved and began to introduce computers in the secondary schools, later the primary schools. Teams of teachers, programmers and publishers worked hard to develop software to run on

468-584: The proposal in 1980 and in March a four-year programme for schools, costing £9 million. was announced by the Under Secretary of State at the Department of Education and Science, Mr Neil MacFarlane. The director of the programme was Richard Fothergill. By April 1981 he had set up a small team of people, operating from offices at Cheviot House in Newcastle Polytechnic. John Anderson was appointed Deputy, and

494-610: The rapid rise in the use of microelectronics, the Prime Minister Jim Callaghan, is reported to have asked each government department to draw up an action plan to meet the challenge of new technologies and the DES asked CET to create plans for a new programme – the Microelectronics Education Programme . The Programme was aimed at primary and secondary schools in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Although it

520-567: The rest of the central team consisted of Bob Coates, Helen Hindess, Mike Bostock and Lynn Craig later supported by Mike Page for Press and Media, Bill Broderick for International, and Alan Greenwell and Ralph Tabberer for Curriculum Development. The information collection and dissemination was carried out by the information officer who used an early form of Teletext (called Prestel ) and email (called Telecom Gold ) to disseminate news of materials and training opportunities. Each member of staff created correspondence (see Old Computers link below) on

546-622: Was amalgamated with the Microelectronics Education Support Unit (MESU) in 1989 to form the National Council for Educational Technology (NCET which later was renamed the British Educational and Communication Technology Agency ( Becta ) in 1997). The original Council (NCET) consisted of a chairman appointed by the Secretary of State for Education and Science after consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland, 31 members appointed by

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572-533: Was an organization in the United Kingdom that provided professional support about educational technology . It was announced in 1985, but was merged in 1988 to form the National Council for Educational Technology . The Microelectronic Education Support Unit (MESU) was announced in July 1985 as a follow on to the Microelectronics Education Programme however it did not become operational until January 1987. MESU

598-521: Was delayed by the change of government in 1979, Keith Joseph as Education Secretary finally approved it in 1980 and in March a four-year programme for schools, costing £9 million. As well as BJET CET published a range of publications, many the result of projects it set up and funded. The following is a selection of these publications to give a flavour of the breadth and range of the Council's activity: Microelectronics Education Support Unit The Microelectronics Education Support Unit (MESU)

624-647: Was previously an engineer and then a civil servant at the Ministry of Technology. He successfully steered the Council through its sometimes difficult relationship with government. He retired in 1986 but continued his role as Chairman of the National Extension College . Richard Fothergill was appointed Director following his role as Director of the Microelectronics Education Programme. The British Journal of Educational Technology (BJET)

650-719: Was set up by its newly appointed Director John Foster at the Warwick University Science Park. He appointed Ralph Tabberer and Ann Irving as Deputy Directors and they recruited a strong team of curriculum and information specialists. It set about identifying local authority needs and linking into subject associations. In 1988 the Department for Education and Science (DES) set up the Information Technology in Schools (ITIS) initiative to oversee this area, headed by Phillip Lewis and supported by David Noble. It funded

676-508: Was sponsored and funded by the Council. It published its first issue in January 1970 and Professor Norman Mackenzie was its first editor and the prime mover behind its creation. Although sponsored by the Council it always kept a strong, peer-reviewed, academic approach to its work – as it said in its "Auspices" at the front of each volume. Whilst the British Journal of Educational Technology

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