Abstract
One of the most important developments in the 70's has been the introduction of microcomputers. The impact of these systems presents a major challenge for computer educators today and in the foreseeable future.
Though educators have tried to adapt to this rapid change in technology, only recently have articles appeared describing experiences in integrating micro-systems in Computer Science curricula (5,6). Though each paper covers different topics in varying degrees of depth, almost all the authors agree that having a micro-lab facility provides students with exposure to concepts and problems such as:
- actual hardware
- computer operation
- operating systems
- backup procedures
- time dependent coding
- program size problems
- inter-computer communications
- scheduling
- maintenance
- computer management.
These are the types of problems students will encounter after graduation and this laboratory provides them with actual experience that previously was not available.
- 1 Aiken, Robert M., "Computer Science Education—A Challenge for the 80's", to appear in Proceedings of Oregon Conference on Computing Problems of the 80's.Google Scholar
- 2 Advertisement for RADIO SHACK TRS-80 Computer, January 1978.Google Scholar
- 3 Desaultels, E. J., "On Computing Facilities for Computer Science", Computer, 7:11, November 1974, 39-48.Google Scholar
Cross Ref
- 4 Golde, H. and Shaw, A., "Why a Separate Computer Facility for Computer Science Education?" Tech. Report 74-06-11, Computer Science Group, University of Washington, 17 pages.Google Scholar
- 5 Homeyer, Fred C., "An Experimental Microcomputer Course (A Case History)", SIGCSE Bulletin, 9:4, 1977, 41-44. Google Scholar
Digital Library
- 6 Weaver, Alfred C., "Microcomputers in the Computer Science Curriculum", SIGCSE Bulletin, 10:1, 1978, 171-176. Google Scholar
Digital Library
- 7 Maguiere, R. Brien and Symes, L. R., "Effects of Laboratory Facilities on Computer Science Curriculum", SIGCSE Bulletin: Special Issue, Seventh Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, 9:1, 1977, 1-5. Google Scholar
Digital Library
- 8 Bowles, K. L., "The UCSD PASCAL Project", EDUCOM Bulletin, 13:1, Spring 1978, 2-8.Google Scholar
- 9 Irby, Thomas, C., "Teaching Software Development Using a Microprocessor Laboratory", SIGCSE Bulletin, Special Issue, Seventh Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, 9:1, 1977, 113-118. Google Scholar
Digital Library
- 10 Wang, Andrew S. Y., A Multi-Microprocessor Interface for the PDP-11. M.S. Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1978.Google Scholar
Index Terms
An integrated small computer laboratory using a central disk storage facility
Recommendations
An integrated small computer laboratory using a central disk storage facility
SIGCSE '78: Proceedings of the ninth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science educationOne of the most important developments in the 70's has been the introduction of microcomputers. The impact of these systems presents a major challenge for computer educators today and in the foreseeable future.
Though educators have tried to adapt to ...






Comments