Date of Award

11-1-1986

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Specialist in Education (Ed.S.)

Department

Educational Administration and Supervision

Abstract

Since computers originally appeared as computing machines, the primary study of these tools was limited to those who built them and those who saw great use for them. Computers were seen as tools through which the study of a particular academic discipline might be enhanced. As the number of computers grew, the need for people to specialize in the construction and use of the computer also grew. Initial programs of study were developed within existing disciplines, mainly electrical engineering and mathematics. (Curriculum Committee on Computer Science, 1965) "Although much change has been accomplished within existing programs, ... there is a sizeable area of work which does not naturally fit into any existing field. Thus, it is now generally recognized that this area, most often called computer science, has become a distinctive field of study."(p. 543) This statement was one of many at this time which signalled the emergence of a new field of study. The discipline was further defined by this analogy. "Computer Science is concerned with information in much the same sense that physics is concerned with energy; it is devoted to the representation, storage, manipulation and presentation of information in an environment permitting automatic information systems. As physics uses energy transforming devices, computer science uses information transforming devices.” (p.544)

Comments

Presented to the Graduate Faculty University of Nebraska at Omaha In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Specialist in Education University of Nebraska at Omaha Copyright 1986 William A. Deloach

COinS