The Microelectronics Education Support Unit (MESU) was an organization in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

that provided professional support about

educational technology Educational technology (commonly abbreviated as edutech, or edtech) is the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning. When referred to with its abbreviation, edtech, it often refer ...

. It was announced in 1985, but was merged in 1988 to form the

National Council for Educational Technology The National Council for Educational Technology provided advice and support for schools and colleges in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on educational technology, in particular the use of computers for teaching and learning. The Department ...

Origins and Purpose

The Microelectronic Education Support Unit (MESU) was announced in July 1985 as a follow on to the

Microelectronics Education Programme The UK government's Microelectronics Education Programme ran from 1980 to 1986. It was conceived and planned by a Labour government and set up under a Conservative government during Mrs Thatcher's era. Its aim was to explore how computers coul ...

however it did not become operational until January 1987.

Staff

MESU was set up by its newly appointed Director John Foster at the Warwick University Science Park. He appointed Ralph Tabberer and Ann Irving as Deputy Directors and they recruited a strong team of curriculum and information specialists. It set about identifying local authority needs and linking into subject associations.

Supporting Advisory Teachers

In 1988 the Department for Education and Science (DES) set up the Information Technology in Schools (ITIS) initiative to oversee this area, headed by Phillip Lewis and supported by David Noble. It funded the deployment of 600 advisory teachers and the provision of hardware in schools through the payment of Education Support Grants (ESGs) to local authorities. Grants were made conditional on each LEA producing a policy statement and a five-year plan. MESU ran separate national conferences for the different subject advisory teachers, Mathematics, English, Science, Design and Technology and others. pulling together a resource pack for each to provide each with support in their local authority work. Some of National Curriculum History

National Curriculum

Following legislation in 1988 schools had become more autonomous in making their own purchasing and staffing decisions. Of substantial importance was the inclusion of IT as a key component of the national curriculum for every student aged 5 to 16. This identified for the first time a core set of IT capabilities and stressed applying them across the curriculum.

Merger with CET to form NCET

In 1988 MESU was merged with the CET by the DES, who funded both bodies, to form the

References

{{Reflist Computer science education in the United Kingdom Educational technology projects United Kingdom educational programs