BCT Computer History Project

Business Computer Technology, Level 1

Computer History Project

Your Mission:
You are a 7th or 8th Grade Computer Technology student. You have been asked by your core teachers to prepare and present a report to your fellow students who have not been able to work Business Computer Technology into their elective schedule. Your teachers want you to help your fellow students understand the history of computers through the ages.

Why did they select this topic?
Because you are in the first generation who is native to the digital age. Your teachers are immigrants to the computer world, but you have grown up digital. They feel that you are more comfortable with computers than they are, so you may be better equipped to teach the subject.

How does this assignment fit into my core subjects?

Social Studies - This should be obvious. :-)

Science and Math - These were the academic areas that drove the development of computers through the ages.

Language Arts - This is an excellent topic to use for demonstrating the left-bound report format.

Let's Get Started - You may work with one or two partners:

Step One: Research. You will have two days for this step.

Read the following articles and take notes in a word processing document.
You should be ready to discuss information you learn from the following
Internet articles on the History and Development of Computers.
http://www.softlord.com/comp/ (Note: This site would not typically be one that you should first consider since it is not produced by an educational institution or reference-type web-site. The reason I have posted it is that the best site I have been able to locate is now unavailable without a subscription. I have reviewed the "Softlord" site and believe that it is accurate and quite understandable for middle school students.)

Remember: When you do research, you MUST cite your sources in your report. BE SURE to paste the URL from the sites you use in your notes. Later, as you are preparing your "Works Cited," you can go back to the website (since you have the URL) and gather the extra information needed for the Works Cited entry. Also.remember - notes do not include entire articles! They should only be from one to three sentences about the subject. (Pretend that you are handwriting your notes on a 3x5 index card, as you would have before the digital age.)

As you search:
Focus on key people and inventions from computer history. Remember that you will need to be able to discuss, and later include these people and inventions in your report. You should be familiar with all of the bold-faced items below. You may want to search for additional information not linked here. Feel free to use Google or Ask Jeeves.

Abacus (see http://www.ee.ryerson.ca:8080/%7Eelf/abacus/history.html)
Pascal
Jacquard
Babbage
Hollerith

____________________________________________________________
The computer history site doesn't make clear the difference between analog and digital computers. Read the following articles and determine which computer(s) in the computer history article are analog computers and which are digital computers;

Analog Computer
(see http://www.science.uva.nl/faculteit/museum/AnalogComputers.html )

Digital Computer (see ENIAC story http://ftp.arl.mil/~mike/comphist/eniac-story.html )
____________________________________________________________

Below are newer classifications of computers. Be able to describe each of the following:

Mini Computer
(see http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci212577,00.html )

Micro Computer
(see http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci212566,00.html )

Mainframe
(see http://search390.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid10_gci212516,00.html)

Super Computer
see http://search390.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid10_gci213071,00.html)

PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)

_____________________________________________________________
Step Two: Discussion on Wednesday

Things to think about before the discussion:

Why were computers created?
How can/have computers affect/affected you?
What impact have computers had on society?
- Education?
- Home?
- Business?
- Government?
  _____________________________________________________________

Step Three: Though you can work with a classmate to collect and discuss your information, each person is to write their own report.

Write your report on Thursday and Friday. Use the sample Left-bound report as your guide (will be distributed in class). You may also reference the left-bound report notes. In your report you should use all of the people in history listed above, along with the other terms. Your page should be at least two pages in no more than a 12-point, Times New Roman font.

Once complete, proofread your soft copy, correct and print. Have a teammate critique and proofread using proofreader marks (see the handout for proper symbols.)

Go to Rubric Page

This will count as a test grade!