Claimed advantages, possible drawbacks, and economic implications of computer based learning systems are presented in this state of the art report for Great Britain. Specific areas considered include: the potential uses of computers for education, computer based learning systems, the physical bases of the system hardware and software, the…

A general review of the evolution of the use of the computer to construct school timetables (time structures) in Great Britain. (HB)

Use of a 56k Z80-based microcomputer for timetabling is described. Topics addressed include general program structure, data input, class assignment, timetable display, improvement program, possible enhancements to computer models, quality of timetable produced, and implications of data/program structure. Such a timetable is suitable for a…

The bibliography is divided into four sections: computer timetabling of British schools, organization of British schools, related activities, and the foreign experience. (HB)

Discusses use of computers in school administration, drawing attention to differences between computer-based administration and manual systems. Topics addressed include applications (processing student records, timetabling, and others), school and the authority, computing resources, availability of application programs, and areas (such as systems…

In 1972 there were 33,000 Telex installations in the United Kingdom with 240,000 predicted by 1983. The feasibility of using these Telex systems for on-line accession of computer based information systems was investigated in this report. Comparisons between the Telex system and the Teletypewriter or Teleprinter system now in use reveal that the…

Describes a college-level physics course which focuses on both physics knowledge/skills and use of microcomputers. Types of experiments done with the computers and how students use the computers to treat data are considered. (JN)

Because it is vitally important to Great Britain that the most highly educated section of the population, comprising many future leaders, should be familiar with the nature and potential of computers, the committee responsible for this report was asked to review the teaching of computing generally, to assess the teaching requirement and its…

The British Open Tech Program (OTP) is providing technical training and refresher courses to any adult interested in learning. The development, structure, and delivery of the program (which has had an ethusiastic response) are discussed. (JN)

Discusses an easy way of interfacing physics experiments to a microcomputer, providing information on the "analog input port" of a BBC microcomputer. Also describes a capacitor discharge experiment with suggestions for several student activities such as investigating decay curve shapes. Program listing is available from author. (DH)

Examines the extent to which a process control computer system is assisting departmental research (by providing a comprehensive and flexible data logging and plant control system) and providing a teaching facility for the department by live demonstrations of plant monitoring and control applications, simulation, and student implementation of…

The "Measurement Module" is a device which records measurements for microcomputer input. Construction of the device, software, and uses in physics experiments and demonstrations are discussed. (JN)

Five Birmingham (England) schools took part in a project to bring word processors/processing to secondary schools. Topics discussed related to this project include staff training, factors related to word processor selection, hardware repair/maintenance, keyboard training, and others. Reports from word processor users and a list of course…

Mention is made of some of the more significant of relatively few attempts to use computers in British education. A computer-assisted instruction project at the University of Leeds is briefly described and projects at three other universities and in secondary schools are noted. The dearth of computer applications in counseling is cited, and the…

A BASIC computer program was written for an experiment that measures the time of a fall of a ball-bearing dropped through a measured distance. However, the timing subroutine was written in machine language. The reason for using machine language, the machine language program, hardware used, and the experiment are discussed. (JN)