Latin was once taught in all schools. An essential element of the curriculum
was a language that was no longer 'living' and increasingly no longer needed.
Latin still has its place in education, but for the scholar rather than as a
main core subject. So as the curriculum has developed to give our young people
a balance of all round learning skills and abilities we have also seen the shift
to providing our students with the tools to meet the demands of industry and
business at the end of the 20th century. Just as French, German or Spanish have
replaced Latin as languages, so too have PCs replaced out-moded proprietary
computers in the classroom. Like Latin, these older systems may have a place
with the specialist scholar, but as a main computer system their role has been
marginalised and is diminishing all the time. On the other hand PCs are growing
in stature and are now the platform choice of the majority of schools in the UK.
A recent Computer Weekly/Kew Associates survey ranked RM as the market leader in
UK educational IT sales. That means more schools buy PCs than any other
platform. The report further highlights that sales of proprietary systems such
as Acorn have fallen dramatically in the same period.
The market trends
show that PCs are the way forward and here we will look at just some of the
reasons why the PC is the most appropriate platform for IT in education.
IT should be incorporated into all aspects of the curriculum. Bearing this in
mind and thinking of the rationale behind this directive, the most obvious
reason is to equip our younger generations with the skills and knowledge to play
as full a part as possible in business, pleasure and social activities.
Computers are here to stay and it is up to us to use them in the most positive
way we can. They make an excellent learning tool and provide a whole new range
of abilities to our students. Moreover, as we move to a much more IT aware
society we all need to be able to know about IT and not be awkward with it.
Competent use of the tools most commonly available is an essential skill in
itself.
We, therefore, want pupils to be able to learn relevant skills at school and then apply them in further study, at work or socially. It is probably true to say that most platforms can offer some of these skills, but when considering which platform to choose there are a number of associated issues that should be considered. Any teacher, head, governor, parent, or IT co-ordinator evaluating the choices should look for the following:
The rate of development of PCs ensures that the price/performance levels of
this platform are always amongst the most competitive; schools are getting
increasing processing power and performance at a decreasing price. Just as
important as the hardware is the software to run on it. As a recognised standard
platform worldwide the PC has the greatest amount of software available to it.
All of the major software houses write PC software. Most developers of Acorn
programmes are now writing PC-versions in addition to proprietary code; how long
before they switch over altogether? The predominance of the PC, especially in
the home, is a tempting market for these companies. PC users can therefore take
the pick of the best software available. Multimedia and CD-ROMs are now an
integral part of computing, especially in schools, and once again the PC
platform leads in the availability of quality CD-ROMs.
PC prices are kept
down, and manufacturers forced to keep abreast of technology because there are
many suppliers of the PC platform. For users and purchasers this competition
brings both choice and the ability to 'shop-around' for the deal that suits them
best. It should be noted that price is not the only consideration here; users,
particularly those in education, should be aware of the support and service
offered on the systems they purchase. Another consideration is that the PC
platform does not lock you into a single supplier, a PC from any manufacturer
will operate with other PCs, giving purchasers the opportunity to change
suppliers if necessary. The choice of peripherals such as printers is also less
limited.
Networking is another increasingly important issue in both
secondary and primary schools. The PC has a proven record for networking, and
its strength here is one reason for the move away from proprietary systems.
Obviously once you start connecting systems together to share resources and
data, the issues of compatibility become much more important. With the growth of
wide area networks and connections between schools the wide acceptance of the PC
standard opens up far more possibilities than are available for non-standard
computers. Networks at both a local and wide area level are one aspect of a new
revolution in education, and those schools who are unable to take a full part in
it because of incompatible systems, will miss out on these exciting
opportunities.
The future of IT in education is likely to follow a PC
orientated path. As Acorn concentrates on the RISC PC and Set-top-boxes and
Apple on the Power PC, we can already see the convergence on this technology.
The PC has led the market for personal computing since its inception, and this
looks to continue. All the major research and development is concentrated on the
PC platform, and so it makes sense to invest in a platform with a clear future.
Smaller developers of non-compatible hardware and software for a specific market
will be unable to maintain such levels of development, and their users may well
find themselves left in a backwater of technology.
The PC is the only
platform that can provide a serious solution to each of these questions.
Followers of Apple and Acorn will tell you about technical superiority and
advantages of specialist educational platforms. A world wide standard platform,
however, offers the opportunity to pick the best from the widest possible range
of products. Some will also say that their systems are easier to use than the
PC, and that they have been using graphical user interfaces which offer
Windows-like facilities for years. The truth is, that with Windows 95 the PC
will have the simplest and most powerful user interface available, and the one
most likely to be encountered outside of education.
In order to make the best possible use of the PC and to understand how it can be
used most effectively in education, it is worth consulting a specialist provider
of PCs to education.You could buy an inexpensive PC from any high street shop,
but a 'vanilla' PC will only offer so much to education. The correct combination
of standard packages, such as word-processors, spreadsheets and databases, with
educational software, either cross curricular or subject specific, can be vital
to the success of an IT resource. What schools need is the most cost-effective
combination of software and hardware. Something which children and teachers can
get the most out of which combines the power and flexibility of the PC platform
with the best resources and facilities developed expressly for education. When
they need help (at whatever level - hardware problems, advice, training,
curriculum or administration) they need to be confident that it is easily
available from a supplier who has lots of experience in the area and really
understands their problems.
Few suppliers understand that IT is used
differently in education. Specific requirements can quite often be simple;
things like fixing the position of an icon on the screen so that pupils cannot
move it around or delete it for the next person who uses that PC. Or sometimes
there are more complex issues like when a class of students cause a printing
rush at the end of a lesson.
Some suppliers talk about their understanding
of these issues, but most still treat educational customers just the same as
their corporate customers. Very few have implemented solutions to these
education-specific problems. Being in partnership with someone who has
experience in exactly your situation and taking advantage of their depth of
knowledge is the answer.
I hope that this article has given a clear picture of the advantages of the PC
platform for use in education both now and in the future. If you are debating
which platform your school needs just ask yourself which platform gives the:
This exercise will lead you to the PC, and then all you have to do is
decide on the supplier.
Chris Powley
Former Senior Teacher and IT manager, now Projects
Manager at RM