Looking Back From the 1980s At Computers In Education

xzvf writes "As someone who went to high school in the '80s, this newsletter from 1980 (PDF) is a blast from the past. An interview with Microsoft talks up its BASIC language product and predicts voice control of computers in five years. Advertisements for Compute magazine, which was about to go monthly, and an article about a computer 'network' in Minnesota that connects some fax machine-looking terminal to a central computer over telephone lines. Lots of Atari, TI and RadioShack news too. It's a reminder from 30 years ago that we are still not using technology effectively in education."

We are using it very effectively in education

[nedlohs]

to spy on kids and their families, anyway.

I tried to ford the river...

[MrEricSir]

...but my oxen died.

Re:We are using it very effectively in education

[Arthur Grumbine]

Really?! Can you be any more paranoid?
...huh?

They did WHAT in Pennsylvania?!!

Re:using technology effectively in education

[eflester]

Amen. I am a strong advocate (to whom no one listens) for whiteboard use where I work. Our users are completely familiar with how they work, require no support in running them, and are generally able to invent new ways to use them. These devices are energy-efficient, especially if placed near a window where they will require very little artificial light.

You are standing...

[zawarski]

...at the end of a road before a small brick building.

Re:Excellent!

[Anonymous Coward]

At first I read that as "xenotolerant" and had visions of you holding potlucks with aliens

Re:using technology effectively in education

[Dunbal]

White boards are slightly more effective than chalk boards; they're a technological improvement.

      Yes they are. Chalk dust would give you allergies, while marker fumes will get you high. Vast improvement.

Re:Ahh voice control

[value_added]

I see your username is ElectricTurtle. Let me just look that up.

We have voice control now. It's just annoying, and practically speaking, I don't think current generations want to talk to their computers.

I'm sorry. I didn't quite get that.

If you want to post a comment, say "Comment". If you want to troll, say "Troll". If you're aiming for plus funny, just say "Funny". You can also say things like "Tech Support", or "I Don't Know".

Re:I tried to ford the river...

[bdlarkin]

Oooh, it's a sunny day, I think I'll make 6 glasses of lemonade [wikipedia.org] today

On Slashdot

[jeko]

It's generally sex by way of computing...

Re:Ahh voice control

[dangitman]

We have voice control now. It's just annoying, and practically speaking,

It's true, Practically Speaking is one of the more overrated voice recognition applications by Dragon.

Re:Computer, Who's on First?

[schon]

commands like "COMPUTER! [Do stuff]." But "computer" is a common noun that comes up in conversation, so it isn't always supposed to initiate commands

Person A: Hey, check out the size of this new computer!

Person B: COMPUTER?!?! Fuck Me!

Re:older computers are better teaching tools

[tehcyder]

In her pre-literate innocence, she could probably glimpse the Matrix directly :-)