Introduction: topics in computer education

Abstract

During the first half of this decade the role of computers in the educational system became a widespread concern of public decision-makers as well as teachers and school administrators. Instructional computer policies also became relevant to families, especially parents who acquire (or consider acquiring) home computers and software. A national debate over computer literacy (see e.g, Seidel, Anderson, and Hunter, 1982) accompanied this rising tide of concern and was one of the key factors behind the hundreds of computer education proposals before school boards, state legislatures and national decision bodies.