The Learning Machine

2. Why is so much educational software so lousy?

BBC1 Series 1 Episode 2
First broadcast 2nd May 1985, 23:15
Duration: 24:28
A personal view by Tim O'Shea of computers in education. 2: Why is so much educational software so lousy? Why it is so difficult for parents and teachers to find educational software that does something useful, or at the very least does what it's supposed to do? Studio director: ROBERT ALBURY Producer: IAN WOOLF

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Clips from this programme

Opening Titles

Duration: 00:37

Introduction: A personal view by Tim O'Shea of computers in education -Why is so much educational software so lousy?

Duration: 00:34

Educational Software for schools: Pupils from Stantonbury School (Milton Keynes) try out 'Pod' for word association, 'Librarian' for sorting and 'Granny's Garden' adventure game: Bill Tag (Advisory Unit for Computer Based Learning) and Rachel Marcus (Information Technology Teacher) discuss educational (primary school) software: Educational Software doesn't match up to good text books - Why? Too small a market, too little money invested too thinly in this area

Duration: 07:03

Educational Software for homes: Hamish McGibbon (Hill McGibbon Ltd) 'Tables' multiplying game and 'Picture Builder' examples, more entertaining but not selling very well

Duration: 04:58

Educational Software for learning Music - Island Logic moving the icon based program from the BBC Micro to Commodore 64, also developing a Body Atlas program with Barry King (Head of Biology, Stowe School)-The development of software in partnership with schools

Duration: 08:15

Educational Software: Commercial software in the school room; Word Processing, information retrieval, spreadsheets on suitably powerful machines: Pupils from Stantonbury School (Milton Keynes) try out more powerful software and computers

Duration: 02:20

End Titles

Duration: 00:37

The Learning Machine

1. Promises, Promises

First broadcast: 25th April 1985
Duration 24:49

A personal view by Tim O'Shea of computers in education. The first of six programmes Promises, Promises ... As teachers have pointed out: 'They gave us the machines before anyone knew what to do with them.' Tim O'Shea questions the motives for putting micros into schools and suggests what is needed for the computer to live up to its educational promise. Film editor HOWARD SHARP Producer IAN WOOLF

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2. Why is so much educational software so lousy?

First broadcast: 2nd May 1985
Duration 24:28

A personal view by Tim O'Shea of computers in education. 2: Why is so much educational software so lousy? Why it is so difficult for parents and teachers to find educational software that does something useful, or at the very least does what it's supposed to do? Studio director: ROBERT ALBURY Producer: IAN WOOLF

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