Recent history and imminent prospects for CAL in the U.K

In this paper the author examines the events leading up to the National Development Programme for Computer Assisted Learning (1973–1977), the achievements of that programme and of the microelectronics education programmes initiated in 1979/80. Looking forward, he emphasises the need for continuing development programmes if education is to meet the needs of students in a rapidly changing world. New developments such as interactive video and expert systems offer new educational possibilities, but the technology itself is less significant than the consideration of the type of educational system in which it should be applied.