Computers and science education: Issues and progress (Presentation Abstract)

ABSTRACT

Unless a systematic plan for the use of computers in education is jointly developed by educators, business and the government, our technological leadership will be seriously affected. Such a loss of leadership would harm our economic strength, our defense capability and the quality of life in general. For example, new job opportunities will increasingly fall in the field of knowledge production. Unless we teach the knowledge and skills for using computers to the poor and disadvantaged, those jobs will go to the already affluent, and the promise of equality of educational opportunity will have little substance.

Improved educational attainment, enhanced intellectual power, increased productivity, and support of the U. S. computer industry are all likely outcomes of reasonable Federal initiatives. A new electronic educational publishing industry, using computer-related technologies could be stimulated.

The skills connected with the computer will become a basic skill (“the 4th 'R'”) that will give people vastly amplified intellectual resources. Simulation of complex events is but one of the ways that new mental adventures and tools for problem solving will be put at our disposal. Some of the educational alternatives will be discussed.

A set of specific recommendations for Federal action and a report on progress will be presented.

Index Terms

• Applied computing

  • Education

• Social and professional topics

  • Professional topics

    • Computing education

      • Computing education programs

        • Computer science education