Review article
Beginning of informatization of Croatian school system
Ivan Vavra
; Hrvatski školski muzej, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Zoran Vlašić
; Pučko otvoreno učilište Zagreb, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
As well as anywhere else, programmed teaching and so-called learning machines and intensive development of computer, information and communication technologies in the second half of the 20th century influenced the beginning of informatization of Croatian school system. So-called predecessors of informatization were electronic classes for managing teaching processes from the 60s, about thirty of them, where the fi rst one (also the first one in former Yugoslavia) was opened in the Institute for physical medicine and rehabilitation in Zagreb in 1964. In the beginning of the 70s there are first steps of computerization/informatization of education in Croatia recorded: there appeared the first important handbooks on computer usage in class (N. N. Šoljan, 1972; V. Mužić, 1973), and for the education (non-numerical application) a new HP 2000 E, a first time sharing computer system was implemented in former Yugoslavia, in newly founded Multimedia teaching and information center (MMC, 1973). At that time the first development research of computer led classes was initiated. At the same time experimental computer classes were started in six schools in Zagreb based on program and AV material prepared at MMC, and in a few schools in Zagreb and Varaždin conversation terminals were installed that were connected to MMC. This shows that, even before microprocessors, there were projects to implement computers in educational system in Croatia. The initial enthusiasm was soon down and by the middle 80s it does not give any results: social and educational public, and educational policy do not recognize the importance of information technology revolution and do not show interest for the application of information technology in education. The appearance of microcomputers and PCs, at the end of 70s and at the beginning of 80s, drew attention of educational public to the need of changes in the area of educational technology. From 1984 till 1986 a wide range of documents were adopted on the country level which had to initiate systematic intensive informatization of school system by equipping schools and education of teachers, by making programs for computer education of students and by providing and implementing digital educational material. The reasons why these projects were only partially realized until 90s is due to conceptual and strategic disadvantages of initiated activities. The initiated processes did not acknowledge existing resource limitations – organizational, personnel and productional – as well as the lack of money for the completion of projects. However, during the 80s awareness was created that informatization is necessary and the first experiences were reached in different segments of using computers at schools.
Keywords
informatization of school system; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
334711
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2004.
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