I'll never forget learning basic HyperCard usage in Computer Class in seventh grade... in 2005. My public middle school had just got brand new shiny white iMacs... which they used exclusively to run the Classic Mac (or whatever it was called) emulator, so we could learn HyperCard and use some ancient monochrome typing tutor.
I was always annoyed that "Computer Class" was taught like this--having students follow step-by-step instructions to the letter to "learn" how to use ancient software with almost zero room for creativity or exploration. Trying to "color outside the lines" and use any of these tools for anything other than the explicit purpose of the curriculum was forbidden. I remember recognizing that HyperCard seemed like an old cross between HTML and PowerPoint, and I really wanted to try making a game with it... but my teacher wouldn't allow it. "Computer Class" basically always felt like we were being rigidly instructed how to do the menial white-collar office work of a decade prior, instead of allowing us to unlock our creativity and explore all the cool stuff this fancy new technology could actually do.
I often got the vibe that these teachers really didn't know how to do literally anything with the computers they were teaching us to use, outside of exactly what they were teaching us how to do... and they were afraid that we'd figure out how to use the computers better than them.
What do kids in middle-class public middle schools learn in "Computer Class" these days? Is it still just typing, basic Office use, and HTML4? What's a "Computer Class" like now that everyone carries one around in their pocket at all times?
That's too bad. In my middle school we had an instructor who was really passionate about computers, and the kids in his class.
This was '93-95. The majority of the computers were monochrome Macs, but his instructor machine was a color computer. We did Hypercard, and other bits I've since forgotten.
What I can remember is buying tons of floppies (which I might still have - I did a couple years ago) and staying after school to play Bolo. With his color computer, and practice, he kicked the rest of our butts in the game. Floppies were to store the 'Brains' that we got off the internet, as well as maps we had made, or that we got online.
I know for me that initial foray into computers, something we wouldn't have in our house until late high school, lead to me working on web sites late at night (AOL's HTML documentation being how I learned basic HTML), which lead me to not taking any computer classes in college, but still ending up as a web developer by trade (15+ years professionally).
High school was definitely a difference experience; DOS machines at the time, with Apples being in a different room later, that were taught primarily as word processors.
Unlike middle school, I believe we got in trouble when we tried to play games (Hexen being one of them) after class.
I had a similar experience 20 years prior, replacing HyperCard with Logo and the iMac with Apple IIe (aka //e.)
The class was very rigid, giving us instructions on what to do.
However, a few of us deviated from the rules and enjoyed learning on our own, finishing the assignments quicker just so we could try out new things.
Of course we got in trouble in class, but many of these same students got into trouble in other classes. (I tended to ask too many questions, I believe I was told.)
From what I've seen lately, Computer Class is just the place where you do your homework or gone entirely because they have some laptop / tablet in the classroom. Computer Programming went the way of Shop classes, probably for a very similar reason. You need a teacher that if competent can make more money elsewhere and you need a dedicated room. From a school's eyes computer programming is logistically a vocational class.
Which is sad. A few years ago there was a push to bring “programming into schools”. I thought this was weird. We had AppleSoft Basic programming courses in 1988 when I was in 8th grade (magnet school) and at my regular old run of the mill public high school up until 1992.
Programming, BASIC in particular, was pushed very hard in the 80s and 90s because it was viewed as the next common household skill. After numerous advances in UX, it sort of returned to its professional exclusivity.
Fortunately for me my experience with HyperCard was quite different. We were encouraged --possibly even required?-- to make a game with it in middle school. That's how my very first ever game was made. Long since lost to time unless the floppy is sitting in a forgotten filing cabinet somewhere.
I was always annoyed that "Computer Class" was taught like this--having students follow step-by-step instructions to the letter to "learn" how to use ancient software with almost zero room for creativity or exploration. Trying to "color outside the lines" and use any of these tools for anything other than the explicit purpose of the curriculum was forbidden. I remember recognizing that HyperCard seemed like an old cross between HTML and PowerPoint, and I really wanted to try making a game with it... but my teacher wouldn't allow it. "Computer Class" basically always felt like we were being rigidly instructed how to do the menial white-collar office work of a decade prior, instead of allowing us to unlock our creativity and explore all the cool stuff this fancy new technology could actually do.
I often got the vibe that these teachers really didn't know how to do literally anything with the computers they were teaching us to use, outside of exactly what they were teaching us how to do... and they were afraid that we'd figure out how to use the computers better than them.
What do kids in middle-class public middle schools learn in "Computer Class" these days? Is it still just typing, basic Office use, and HTML4? What's a "Computer Class" like now that everyone carries one around in their pocket at all times?