Colleagues at Blackpool & Fylde College in the early 1980s, Terry Cowham & Pat O'Connell in particular, were early into the exploration of how the new 'microcomputers' like the Research Machines 380Z and the 'PET' could be used. These devices were around in growing numbers by 1980 and there was a recognition that something quite significant was about to happen.

At the time I was a teacher of geology, environmental science and energy studies. I had come across a project run by the UK's Schools Council, the Computers In The Curriculum project. It was their "Home Heating" software rather than the technology itself that sparked my interest! I somehow persuaded my boss to buy an Apple II for my lab, and I learned to program in Applesoft BASIC so my students could run the Home Heating software on it.

I realised that the same machine could provide tutor group lists and other admin windfalls - and that let me make the case for more equipment! We soon had a small stable of really neat Apple IIs and a computerised timetable system. This system, HITIME, was sold to over 100 colleges once it was converted to run on the BBC micro ..... and so started my career-long interest in using technology to support both learning and the management of learning.

Educational Computing : The View From A College, 1981

I needed to write a 3rd-year Masters' dissertation [Lancaster University Department of Educational Research 1978-1981 PT student] and took the opportunity to explore the "educational computing" field, and to put that into a practical context at Blackpool & Fylde.

If you're interested you can download this ancient MA Dissertation in chunks from the list above. Many of the needs remain much the same now, 25 years later.

Lots still left for PlanAR Research to do!