Gabriel Goldstein worked as a HMI, specialising in computing and information technology in schools. His collected papers reflect the growth of educational interest in the use of calculators, computers, control and information technology in schools. His work within this context as a HMI illustrates how the inspection and the policies of central and local government reflected this growing interest in technology and how this interest led to systematic mechanisms to support 'information and communications technology' (ICT) as an identifiable element of a school's curricular and material provision. During the period of his work, ICT gained recognition as a resource for learning, as a subject of study and as a focus for (initial and in-service) training of teachers.
By the 1990s, information technology was first introduced as a part of the National Curriculum of schools, and later as a specialist subject in teacher education. In addition, teachers of all subjects received initial and in-service education in the use of information technology as a resource in teaching various subjects.
During the period in question, the Inspectorate's structure of specialist HMI committees grew to accommodate new specialist interests. In addition to the committee on Mathematics and Computing in Further and Higher Education, HMI Committees were also later established for such areas as Educational Technology; Computing (as a subject in schools); and Information Technology in the School Curriculum.
Goldstein's papers consist of materials assembled during the course of his work, and materials created by his predessors who had previously held national responsibility for computing and information technology in schools and teacher education. The HMI responsible for computing during this period were: from c.1969 to 1975, Barbara Dutton (Hornsby) and Robert Lyness; from 1975 to about 1985, Michael Girling; and from 1983 to 2000, Goldstein himself (specialising in information technology, and then also computing).
List of relevant acronyms:
A-Level Advanced Level of the GCE
ACITT Association of Computing and IT Teachers
AS-Level Advanced Supplementary level of the GCE
AT Shorthand for "Advisory Teacher" in a specialism; usually employed by LEAs
ATP Approved Training Provider - for NOF-funded INSET in ICT use for learning
BCS The British Computer Society - later The Chartered Institute of IT
Becta British Educational and Communications Technology Agency
BIS Business Information Studies - an examinable subject
C20 The HMI committee on Computer Applications in Schools
C23 The HMI Forum on Information Technology in Schools
C24 The HMI Committee on Educational Technology
CA Careers, or CAED - careers education
CAIS The Communications and Information Systems Domain of the MEP
CAL Computer assisted learning
CBL The Computer-Based Learning Domain of the MEP
CD Compact digital disc
CES Computer Education in Schools Project (on materials for computer studies)
CET Council for Educational Technology
CSE Certificate of Secondary Education
CSt Computer studies, also name of examinable subject at 16+
CiC Computers in the Curriculum Project funded by the Schools Council
Cp Computing, also the name of examinable subject at A-Level and AS-Level
?C Shorthand for "microcomputer" in some handwritten documents
DES DFE Department of Education and Science, and (later) Department For Education
DHSS Department of Health and Social Security
DT, D&T Design & Technology in the curriculum
DoI Department of Indudtry
ECT The Electronics and Control Technology Domain of the MEP
EDP Educational Development Plan, usually for the whole work of an LEA
EN Eng English in the curriculum
ESG Education Support Grant see also GEST
FCC "First Call Centre" designation for HMI working on a central function
FFIOSx.y Framework for the Inspection of Schools section x subsection y, etc
GCE Gebneral Certificate of Education
GCSE General Certificate of Secondary Education
GEST Grants for Education Support and Training - ESG by a later name
GNVQ General National Vocational Qualification
GRIST Grants for In-Service Training
HMCI Her Majesty's Chief Inspector
ICT Information and communications technology (after 1994, often in place of IT)
IEU Industry Education Unit at the Department of Industry
IFIP The "International Federation for Information Processing" professional assocn
INSET In-service training of teachers
INTENT Initial Teacher Education and New Technologies - a NCET-funded project
IT or ICT Information (and communications) technology
ITAC IT acoss the curriculum
ITC Independent Television Commission
ISHE "Info Superhighways for Education"- policy to provide broadband for schools
ITE Initial teacher education
ITT, ITTI Initial teacher training, or initial teacher trainer institution
ITTE Association of lecturers/teachers for "IT in Teacher Education"
JRS Judgement Recording Score (score for an aspect reported in inspection)
KS Key Stage, eg KS2= education in Junior years, for ages 7 to 11.
LA The Libraries Association
LAMSAC The Local Authorities Management Services and Computer Committee
LEA Local education authority
LEATGS LEA Training Grant Scheme
LMS Local Management of Schools (devolving funds - from LEAs- to schools)
LR Learning resources - books, libraries, broadcasts, museum collections, IT
MA Mathematics in the curriculum
MA The Mathematical Association
MEP Microelectronics Education Programme
MESU Microelectronics Education Support Unit
MSC The Manpower Services Commission
MoS Minister of State
MM (used in written material as shorthand for) "Multimedia"
?C Shorthand for "microcomputer" in some handwritten documents
NPR National Point of Reference in HMI for a particular aspect of inspection
NAACE National Association of Advisers in Computer Education
NC National Curriculum
NCC National Computing Centre
NCET National Council for Educational Technology (successor of CET & MESU)
NDPCAL National Development Programme for Computer Assisted Learning
NGfL "National Grid for Learning" - initiative providing broadband links & content
NOF New Opportunities Fund of the National Lottery, that funds ICT INSET from 1998
NoV Note of visit
NPP The National Primary Project of the MEP (from late 1981/82)
PA Publishers' Association
POR Point of Reference HMI, with a particular responsibility or expertise
PGX A DES policy group convened 1977-1981 to discuss the development of microelectronics education and training
PUSS Parliamentary Undersecretary of State
QCA Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
RE Religious education in the curriculum
RIC Regional Information Centre - strategic element of MEP's regional work
ROIE Record of Inspection Evidence
SA HMI Specialist (subject) Adviser (after 1994)
SCAA Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority
SCET Scottish Council for Educational Technology
SCI Senior Chief Inspector
SC Science in the curriculum
SEC School Examinations Council
SEN Special educational needs
SEF Subject Evidence Form (for recording JRS on aspects seen on inspection)
SENCO Special Educational Needs Coordinator in a school
SLA Service Level Agreement or School Libraries Association
SLS School Libraries Service
SLT/SMT Senior Leadership Team or Senior Management Team (in school or LEA)
SoS Secretary of State
SP Subject Profile (see SEF)
TC Teachers centre, eg in a LEA or attached to a provider of training
TC & TCT Technology college, Technology Colleges Trust
TGS Training Grant Scheme
TMT Territorial Monitoring Time (for HMI in the early days of new OFSTED)
TVEI Technical and Vocational Education Initiaive by the MSC and others
TTNS The Times Network for Schools (electronic mail service)
TTA Teacher Training Agency, later named TDA - Teacher Development Agency
WP Wordprocessor or wordprocessing
XC Across the curriculum or cross-curricular
