"Computers play a big role in my life today. The Computer course started the ball rolling for me. It is nice to see that someone is looking to the future and realising how important computers are in today's society" (a former pupil).

So said one of the many people who have studied the Computer Studies, Leaving Certificate subject which has been run as a pilot course in Limerick schools over the past 18 years. Our aim in 1979/80 was to design a two year course suitable for operation in schools at Leaving Certificate level. The Leaving Certificate syllabus included the following main sectors:

· Development of Calculating Devices
· Structure of a Digital Computer
· Functional Description of the main elements of a Digital Computer
· Numbering and Coding Systems
· Introduction to Combinational and Sequential logic
· Computer Languages - Evolution and Properties
· Programming Design Methodology using BASIC and other high level languages (PASCAL)
· Introduction to Numerical Methods
· Data Structures and Files
· Computer System Configurations, Operating Systems and System Software
· Review of Representative Applications
· Microprocessors and Microcomputers
· Evolving Role of Computing and Information Processing in Society

The detailed syllabus in the 1997 upgrade, which has evolved from this, still follows this same structure. This demonstrates that while maintaining the challenge and academic content, the course has been able to accommodate, in a very natural way, the rapid changes in technology which have occurred since 1979.

"In my view I think the computer course was very beneficial. We had an excellent teacher. Also, I believe as part of today's world computers are necessary in any job and should be made compulsory" (a former pupil).

An important issue for us in 1979 was the training of teachers. We ran courses in the evenings and Saturday mornings. Over the early years one hundred teachers were trained. Numbered amongst these is a local TD and former Government Minister, who had the makings of an excellent programmer. Eventually we ran a Graduate Diploma course in Computer Studies for Schools which provided a more comprehensive training. Our experience is that good computer studies teachers come from a range of disciplines from history to applied mathematics. The critical facility is being logical, confident and willing to follow the rules that might at first sight seem very rigid and arbitrary. By now the schools in Limerick have a group of excellent and committed teachers who are the local champions for our programme.

"Information Technology is the future - the Computer Studies course gives a useful introduction to the topic - I believe it should be developed further by encouraging more students to choose it" (a former pupil).

We believe that all pupils should be computer literate, so we designed courses for first year and transition year pupils. These types of courses run in many schools across the country and serve a very useful purpose. In addition there has been substantial national support for the use of computers and software packages in the teaching and learning of other subjects such as mathematics and geography. This is also to be encouraged as is the use of Internet and any othertechnological media which can enrich the teaching and learning of all subjects, where possible. However our aim is to provide a Leaving Certificate course from which pupils gain a good understanding of the nature of computer technology, its application in general terms and its evolution and impact on society. At the end of the course pupils will have reached a basic level of competence in the application of computers and the use of packages such as word processing, spread sheets and data bases. They will be able to design and implement simple high level language programmes. They will have a good understanding of the evolution, importance and impact of computer technology on society. Some pupils become quite expert and others at least become adequate users of a PC in basic tasks.

"I think computers are important and the subject should continue. Unfortunately the Computer Class clashes with language classes and as a result you must choose between them. This shouldn't be so, as both classes are important and students should be able to avail of both subjects" (a former pupil).

One of our problems in delivering the course to larger numbers of pupils has been that it clashed on the timetables with what were viewed as more important subjects in the sense of CAO points, particularly French.

Being a pilot subject has meant that apart from the University of Limerick and Limerick Institute of Technology, it is not accepted for points through the CAO. If it were a national course at Leaving Certificate this would overcome this problem as many more pupils would want to take it.

Each year we are approached by schools outside the Limerick region to run this course and to have pupils take it as a Leaving Certificate subject. We are happy to consider this but do not have the resources to manage large numbers of examination scripts and the related marking and administration load.

"I believe that Computer Studies should be compulsory for students as they will be beneficial to them throughout life and in future education and employment" ( a former pupil).

One of the great results of running this Leaving Certificate subject in schools has been the degree to which it has helped students not going on to third level education to gain good employment. Each year we issue each pupil who has completed the course with a certificate which indicates the grade achieved. This certificate is important when applying for jobs. In general, over the years, a high percentage of pupils have been in this situation, while a much smaller percentage have used it for pointing through the CAO.

"I would advise other students to take this course if they want to work in computers. I found this course better than the one I am doing at the moment in a leading college" (a former pupil).

In evaluating the course each year we try to compare it with other subjects. In general pupils have found it to be as difficult and demanding as honours science subjects, such as physics and chemistry. Also in reviewing grades awarded in the Computer Studies we compare the Computer Studies grade of each pupil with their performance in other subjects. We have found that in general terms there is a close correlation between the performance in Computer Studies and the other subjects. This is not surprising, but it is reassuring. It indicates to us that we have pitched it at an appropriate level for Leaving Certificate pupils; that it is neither too easy nor too difficult. Feedback from former pupils in third level education has been very positive which reassures us that it has provided a good educational experience as well as some specific training.

"The course needs to be structured to cater for two groups of students with different needs : (a) Those who want marketable job-skills on leaving school; (b) Those students who wish to go to college" (a former pupil).

We run the course as a common level subject with academic weaker and stronger pupils sharing classes. Our marking scheme enables us to award Honours or Pass grades. In general terms this has not proved to be a problem. However coping with mixed ability classes has been a significant challenge for teachers, who must adjust course work and project demands to the ability of a particular pupil. It has been possible and it has worked well; the computer and good software provide a huge range of challenges which individuals can rise to as much as they find possible. Our educational approach has always been to challenge at a level appropriate to each pupil. It is to the great credit of the teachers that they have accommodated and promoted this approach.

"The course was very good. The teacher was excellent. A lot for me I think was owed to the teacher for where I am now thanks" (a former pupil).

The details and balance of the course has changed a little each year. The Course Team and the teachers review it annually. For instance this year we are changing the main high level language to Visual Basic. Thisprovides for object orientated programming and easy interaction with Excel. Thus we consider that this provides pupils with an awareness of more modern software structures and should provide opportunities for some exciting project work. This implies teacher training, new text books and some new software support. Thus there is an impact on school resources. Our schools have responded very positively to this demand and the others which we have made over the years. In reality very few schools today do not have more than adequate computing resources to support this Leaving Certificate pilot programme in Computer Studies. What we need is a national syllabus that we can all take part in and which is accepted with parity of esteem with all Leaving Certificate subjects. Surely it should be a national educational priority to do this.

"The Computer Studies Leaving Certificate course which is the subject of this evaluation has proved enormously successful in preparing students for the Information Society. The feedback gained from this evaluation should be used to speed up the process of introducing Computer Studies on the Leaving Certificate curriculum nation-wide" (Catherine Mary Theresa Scannell; A Case Study of a pilot project on Computer Studies as a Leaving Certificate subject; M.Ed Thesis, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick; June 1998.)

The specific recommendation by Catherine Scannell in her thesis should be brought to the attention of the decision makers in education.

"To be able to do a Computer Studies option for my Leaving Certificate was a unique opportunity. I saw it as a privilege" (a former pupil).

I have found it to be a great personal privilege to have been associated with it, for the past 19 years, too.

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