Alerting High-School Students to Implications
of Office Automation

Workshop Leaders:
Joyce Peterson, Teacher, Toronto
Board of Education, and
Researcher, New Technology
Working Group

Gail Posen, Teacher, Toronto
Board of Education, and
Researcher, New Technology
Working Group

Alternatives to the traditional high-school curriculum are being developed at the Toronto Board of Education, with a view to preparing students for the technologically transformed workplace. The presentation centred on the new curriculum units and the rationale behind them.

Action:

• Resource lists, prepared by the workshop leaders who have been responsible for creating the curriculum units, were mailed to the workshop participants.

Statistics Made Easy with Microcomputers:
Junior High and Older

Workshop Leader:
Betty Collis, Faculty of
Education, University of Victoria

Concepts in both descriptive and inferential statistics can be taught effectively, using the computational and graphics capabilities of a single classroom microcomputer. Non-mathematical examples and a microcomputer are especially well paired to demonstrate the use of statistics for prediction.

Examples of such programs and strategies for classroom development were the focus of the presentation.

Computer Literacy Including Programming for Grades 3 to 12

Moderator:
Ann lones, Ontario Ministry of
Education

Panelists:
Pat Richardson, Elementary
Teacher on Sabbatical, University
of Alberta

Sharon Mott, Learning Resources
Officer, Curriculum Branch,
Alberta Education

This presentation consisted of a brief overview of the elementary, junior and senior high-school computer literacy program being implemented in Alberta schools during 1982 through 84. A more detailed analysis of the elementary computer literacy teaching unit, outlining the role of the unit in developing positive attitudes towards computer technology among both girls and boys, was followed by two "hands-on" sessions demonstrating courseware and computer programming activities that could be used in elementary schools. Copies of the Alberta Education reports on computer literacy and lists of learning resources that could be used to implement a computer literacy program in elementary schools were distributed to the session participants. Review copies of the learning resources were on display for more detailed examination.

It was concluded that a computer literacy program that begins at the elementary-school level has a high potential for eliminating, or reducing sex stereotyping in computer technology. This session generated discussion of comparable programs being planned in other provinces, courseware being developed to teach basic skills in various subject areas, and the need for more female educators to become involved in computer applications in their classrooms. The availability of computer equipment at the session allowed some interaction with courseware and simple computer programming activities.

Action:

• Parents, trustees, teachers and administrators should press for the universal implementation of computer programs at the elementary level, when such factors as math anxiety, sex stereotyping and lack of confidence are less likely to intervene.

• All such programs should be prepared by teachers, with particular concern for the learning process in children