JHF's Computer Reminiscences

Progress stalled in the late 80's and despite a huge planning effort we could not get funds to develop pupil use of computers. Teachers who had wanted to do things became discouraged by lack of equipment or software.

We did however develop our first website at a time when hardly any other schools had done so. By 1998 it would have had over 5000 'hits' and be about to be much expanded & developed. OT's and friends found it, and sent greetings- nearly always favourable, although some wanted all-singing & dancing flashiness while we had aimed for an idiosyncratic & not over-stuffy site with a real feel of what the School was like.

By late this year we hope for a much-expanded alumni area to gather & forward contact details of OT's. Visit the site! Your websearch engine will find it easily, or at present enter

http:\\www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/taunton/index.htm

The appointment of new Head Julian Whiteley who understood computing & was supported by a Council decision to implement changes made all the difference. A re-vamp of the old Art Room at last happened and a suite of networked Pentiums was put in.

All Staff were both pressured and encouraged into computer use, with training opportunities and rapidly improving access to kit. Even computer-generated reports became encouraged!

Music Technology 'took off', with lots of equipment to record high quality digital audio, lay down MIDI sound tracks, create CD's and add 'modern' music skills to those more traditional music skills we are well known for.

Trevor Hill's Radio Astronomy work led to outside funds which created wider opportunities for all. To allow us to host a 24 hour per day radio astronomy website we needed access to the Internet by cheaper means than telephone, & with his expertise & ideas from Mike Copleston the microwave link he brought open access for all to the Internet.

By early 1998 all Staff & pupils who wished to had their own e-mail addresses. Staff who lacked experience were supported by INSET training and many were piloting the Eurpean Union Driving Licence for Computing. Fourth Formers were all asked to try for at least three certificated tests towrds the CLAIT tests.

We had released our first pilot CD Rom and were working on this one. And we were rapidly moving towards cabling the School & integrating the separate administrative & academic networks..

Charles Moore proposed a Law twenty years ago, that said that computer electronics became twice as fast and twice as powerful each year AND halved in price. This has continued since & will for years yet, even though it may need technologies not yet invented. But none of the teachers here need fear that they can be replaced by a machine in their lifetme. But things like OCR or voice recognition are now good, or pen input. The problem is we still do not understand intelligence or minds.

NOW READ ON! To be continued in the next edition, gentle reader!

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