Six years of computer penetration into primary education: The case of Israel

Abstract

Computers were first used in primary education in Israel in the late '70's. The massive introduction into primary schools in the early '80's was due to the appearance of microcomputers and the general drop in hardware prices. Introduction of these technologies caused a new need for national policy concerning teachers' preparation and support, guidelines as how computers should be implemented, equipment budgets and standards, software evaluation, etc. This paper focuses on such issues as: How should this technology be used? Do we need a different infrastructure for a successful integration of computers in schools? What kind of human resources development is needed? How much time should be devoted to the use of these technologies in a classroom and for what type of activities?