Written+Articles


 * Intern- Jon Cappetta **


 * Article One: **

The story of how computers originally went from an exclusive yet basic form of new technology to a now common powerful tool that gives individuals the opportunity to browse the Internet and educate themselves is a story to reminisce.

Since 1972 Liza Loop, Sonoma County resident, pioneered computer use for learning and education. Loop and her teammates at the time are what we now call ed tech-pioneers. These pioneers were one of the first groups of people involved in the evolution of educating through computers.

Loop initiated the movement of teaching people how to use computers. More importantly Loop initiated he movement of educating individuals of the potential of computing and how it can be used as an educator.

In December 1975, Loop and team created the LO*OP Center. The building was located on the second floor of a building in Cotati on East Cotati Av. Loop created the LO*OP Center so ordinary people could freely access computers as well as familiarize themselves with computers. The center allowed society to no longer be restricted from this exclusive learning tool, which was the computer.

Computers in the 1970’s were not as common or easily accessible as they are today. At the time computers were primarily found either at businesses or Universities.

“Nobody else could access computers, one couldn’t learn about them nor access them. People couldn’t use them for their own purposes,” said Loop.

The LO*OP Center classes taught adults and children programming and how to use applications. The computers at the Center had educational games, which attracted children of that time. Children were now given the privilege to familiarize themselves with computers, yet the computers also served as a tool for learning because the games on the computer taught various types of school material.

“This was a way that allowed ordinary people who were neither university students nor people working for companies, to learn about computers and use them either for their work or for their play or for there education,” said Loop

LO*OP Center was famously known for having the only publicly available copy machine in Sonoma County, but more importantly known for bringing computers into local schools.

In 1978 LO*OP Center closed the door to its Sonoma County store-front facility down. About four decades after closing, Loop created an online virtual museum called the History of Computing in Learning and Education. HCLE is a collection of all of LO*OP Center’s discoveries and pays tribute to the tech-pioneers involved. Loop had created instruction manuals for the different features on the computers at the LO*OP Center. These instruction manuals are found on HCLE and serve to represent Loop’s early passion in educating society as a whole so that all individuals may have the opportunity to access and learn how to compute.

Computing went from being an unpopular tool, to now an accessible and universal tool that can be used for educating. Computers now consists of a virtual encyclopedia that we call the Internet. The story of the steps made by the pioneers who influenced society to adapt to computing is largely ignored today.

“If I’m forgotten that is not so important but if all of us are forgotten that is a bad thing. It is a story of innovation it is a story of change and is a story of a great deal of creativity,” said Loop.

The story of Loop and the other tech-pioneers is a story that should not be forgotten. Loop is an early tech-pioneer who spread the word about computers and how to use them. She not only predicted but also helped computers to be the learning tool for our modern day society.


 * Article Two: **

The story of how computers originally went from an exclusive yet basic form of new technology to a now common powerful tool that gives individuals the opportunity to browse the Internet and educate themselves is a story to reminisce.

Currently a Sonoma-based, online virtual museum called the History of Computing in Learning and Education (HCLE) is in the making. This website explains the story of how educational technology pioneers have initiated the use of computers for learning and education since 1972. Liza Loop is an educational technology pioneer who started HCLE. HCLE was created around 2003, ten thirty years after LO*OP Center’s downtown Cotati location closed down.

HCLE is a collection of all of LO*OP Center’s discoveries and pays tribute to the tech-pioneers involved. These tech pioneers are responsible for the evolution of educating through computers.

In December 1975 tech pioneers including Liza Loop, Dean Brown and Stuart Cooney created the LO*OP Center located on the second floor of a building in Cotati on East Cotati Av. The LO*OP Center was created so that ordinary people could freely access computers as well as familiarize themselves with the computer, giving society the opportunity to no longer be restricted from this exclusive new found learning tool

Computers in the 1970’s were not as common or easily accessible as they are today. At the time computers were primarily found either at businesses or Universities.

“Nobody else could access computers, one couldn’t learn about them nor access them. People couldn’t use them for their own purposes,” said Loop.

LO*OP Center made the initiative to the movement of teaching people how to use computers. More importantly it made the initiative to the movement of educating individuals of the potential of computing and how it can be used as an educator.

The Center taught adults and children programming and how to use applications. The computers at the Center had educational games, which attracted children of that time. Children were now given the privilege to familiarize themselves with computers, yet the computers also served as a tool for learning because the games on the computer taught various types of school material.

LO*OP Center was famously known for having the only publicly available copy machine in Sonoma County, but more importantly known for bringing computers into local schools.

“Blended education through teachers, plus technology both television and Internet

offer us a reasonable chance of reaching educational excellence through out the world,” said Frank Withrow, one of the ed tech-pioneers featured in HCLE.

Bob Albrecht was another notable tech pioneer who early recognized the importance and potential of computing and how society should adapt to using computers. He is founder and producer of Peoples Computer Company. Albrecht created Fortran Man one of the first cartoons about computers and computer users, this was found in his quesi-periodical named DragonSmoke.

“It was a vital early spark that helped ignite the culture of people having a personal and creative relationship with computers,” said Albrecht, talking about Fortran Man.

Computing went from being an unpopular tool to now an accessible and universal tool that can be used for educating. Computers now consists of a virtual encyclopedia that we call the Internet. The story of the steps made by the pioneers who influenced society to adapt to computing is largely ignored today.

“If I’m forgotten that is not so important but if all of us are forgotten that is a bad thing. It is a story of innovation it is a story of change and is a story of a great deal of creativity,” said Loop.

The story of Loop and the other tech-pioneers is a story that should not be forgotten. HCLE commemorates the tech pioneers that spread the word about computers and how to use them. They not only predicted yet helped initiate computers to be the learning tool for our modern day society.


 * Article Two: Third Draft **

Computers were once hard to access, now a common tool that gives individuals the freedom to browse the Internet as well as the opportunity to educate themselves on their own time. We now operate laptops, tablets and carry a small computer/ smart phone on a daily basis. It is remarkable how much computers have evolved overtime and how beneficial they are for educating. Educational technology pioneers have used computing in conjunction with education since the early 1970’s. Their influence on education is a story that should not be forgotten.

Computers in the 1970’s were not as common or easily accessible as they are today. At the time computers were primarily found at businesses or Universities. In December 1972 Liza Loop, Dean Brown and Stuart Cooney created the LO*OP Center located in Cotati California. The LO*OP Center was created so that ordinary people could freely access computers as well as familiarize themselves with computing. The creation of the LO*OP Center served as an educational opportunity for many.

“Nobody else could access computers, one couldn’t learn about them nor access them. People couldn’t use them for their own purposes,” said Loop.

Loop predicted that the future would consist of two groups of people. The two groups Loop imagined are those who can comfortably operate computers, and those who are unfamiliar with computers. LO*OP Center took the initiative to teach people how to use computers. The Center recognized computers as an educational tool and embraced that recognition. LO*OP Center taught adults and children programming. The Center offered educational games for children. These computers also served as a learning tool that taught various types of school material.

An online virtual museum called the History of Computing in Learning and Education (HCLE) was created in 2003. The online museum offers stories of the many ed Tech- pioneers and their contributions to the LO*OP Center. The HCLE website also pays tribute to their accomplishments and projects. The online museum was necessary when theLO*OP Center in downtown Cotati closed after 30 years of service. Liza Loop is an educational technology pioneer and creator of the History of Computing in Learning and Education.

In the early stages of education society commonly used synchronous education that consisted of teachers educating students, and students asking questions to either the teacher or fellow classmates. Synchronous education occurs in an immediate conversational form between groups of people. Asynchronous education consists of conversation that could be responded to in a time segmented way in example, by using a computer to look up information and gain knowledge. Loop recognized early on that some people responded better to asynchronous learning. She predicted the potential of computing as an asynchronous form of education in the future.

“Myself and the other ed tech-pioneers could imagine back before todays technologies were available that these instruments would someday create that world,” said Loop.

Every individual is entitled to receive education. Frank Withrow is an ed tech-pioneer that believes that technology can be used to educate society. Withrow finds education through the traditional classroom setting to be useful in terms of learning, however this style of education should be incorporated with technological learning. The combination of the two forms of education will allow students to reach their fullest potential.

“Blended education through teachers, plus technology both television and Internet offer us a reasonable chance of reaching educational excellence through out the world,” saidFrank Withrow, one of the ed tech-pioneers featured in HCLE.

Bob Albrecht was another notable ed tech pioneer featured in HCLE. He recognized early the importance and potential of computing and how society should adapt to using computers. He is founder and producer of Peoples Computer Company. Albrecht created Fortran Man one of the first cartoons about computers and computer users, this is found in his quesi-periodical named DragonSmoke.

“It was a vital early spark that helped ignite the culture of people having a personal and creative relationship with computers,” said Albrecht, talking about Fortran Man.

Computers went from being an obscure gadget to a now universal tool. The story of the steps made by the ed tech-pioneers who influenced society to adapt to computing is largely ignored today.“If I’m forgotten that is not so important but if all of us are forgotten that is a bad thing. It is a story of innovation, it is a story of change, and the story is unknown today,” said Loop.

Loop believes that the struggle between those whom are familiar with computing and those who are unfamiliar remains an issue today. Those who know more about computers practically control those who are less knowledgeable. Modern jobs use people as a peripheral to a computer. For example a customer service representative is trained to communicate by referencing a scripted assistance guide on their screen. These individuals are told what to say and what assistance needs to be met. It is clear that the lack of computing knowledge in modern day society is a current issue, familiarizing oneself with computing is a relevant practice that was recognized early by those at the LO*OP Center.

The story of Loop and the other ed tech-pioneers is a story that should not be forgotten. HCLE commemorates the ed tech-pioneers that spread the word about computers and how to use them. They not only predicted yet influenced computers to be the learning tool for our modern day society.

MAGAZINE ARTICLE:

There is plenty of documentation regarding the history of computers yet the story of how computing worked its way into formal and non-formal education has gone under the radar. This an important topic because when computers were first introduced society found a new way to learn and as computing worked its way into schools society found a new way to teach. Educational technology pioneers have used computing in conjunction with education since the early 1970’s, their influence in education is a story  that should not be forgotten. Liza Loop is one of the remaining ed. tech-pioneers, and she plays a very important role in the preservation of the history of education through computing. Loop and many other ed. tech-pioneers influenced people to see computers as valuable learning tools for our modern day society.

Loop’s earliest involvement in computing in education was in the early 1970’s, as a student at Sonoma State University- found in Rohnert Park, California. As a student at a University Loop and her fellow classmates had the opportunity to access the computers that were being time-shared with the Cal State system’s computer located miles away in southern California. Students used glass teletypes **, ** essentially TV screens with keyboards with almost now independent computing power **. ** The time-shared room was small and there was just enough room for around six seats as well as six terminals **. ** The time Loop spent with her fellow students in this small time-shared room was educational. If one student had a question they would simply ask the student next to them. They were teaching and discovering computing for themselves and were individually exploring the world of the computer, yet they were also educating each other as a whole.

By definition this classroom contained synchronous (instantaneous communication between people) and asynchronous (preserved for the learner to participate whenever the time is most convenient for him/ her) leaning. This was one of the first times in history a classroom contained both forms of learning, and what initiated this revolution was the incorporation of computers and the action of computing. Loop saw a future in this technique. This educational experience Loop encountered triggered her desire to create new ways for people of all ages to learn more efficiently, sometimes with the help of computing.

“In a way, the computer is a Trojan horse that would break down the walls of the school. I was very excited about that possibility. I’m also really unhappy when I see schools try and lock down the computer — close it up,” said Liza Loop.

Today’s formal education system generally involves teachers teaching their students material that is not learned naturally. Loop sees this as a problem, there is friction between formal education involving a teacher with the lecturing process vs. informal education involving environmental or self taught learning. As years advance, generations of children are becoming more and more savvy operating electronic devices. This is mainly due to the fact that children are teaching themselves to learn through observed learning- without any real formal teaching. The combination of knowing how to read and knowing how to use a modern computer opens up a whole new spectrum of learning.

“I am a rebel and didn’t much like school, was always bored. I saw computing as a way for everybody to break out of the classroom, to break out of the lockstep of school, to be able to access the information you are interested in, follow your dreams, learn what you wanted to learn,” said Loop. Computers break away from the teacher-centered classroom and allow the student to learn what it is they want to learn which will bring them closer to their desired future

Loop recognized the privilege she had being a university student in the 1970’s, it allowed her access to computers but more importantly the opportunity to learn how to compute. At this time computers were nothing more than an obscure gadget to the person on the street. The only people who could conveniently access computers were either University students or people who worked for a business that incorporated computers. Loop was worried about those who did not have the privilege to access computers. Loop predicted that the future would consist of two groups of people; those who can comfortably operate computers and understand where the information they convey comes from, and those who are unfamiliar with computing. She believed that there should be a non-profit public benefit organization that gave everyone the opportunity to learn how to compute. In December 1975 Liza Loop, [|Dean Brown] and Stuart Cooney created the LO*OP Center, located in the quaint downtown Cotati only a couple miles away from Sonoma State University. LO*OP stands for Learning Options Open Portal s. “Learning Options” comes from Loop’s passion for education and how it can be attained not solely through formal education. There are several other educational techniques, and some involve the assistance of computers. “Open Portal s ” has two meanings: it represents the new spectrum of open opportunity “Learning Options” has to offer, and “Open” singularly represents the LO*OP Center as a non-profit and public organization.

“Education comes from the Latin word -educare means lead out of. Education is a way of leading someone out of the way that they are following into some new place,” said Liza Loop. The LO*OP Center was leading people into a new opportunity for education and that opportunity was the world of computing. The Center allowed adults as well as children the chance to program a n MITS Altair, which was the very first personal microcomputer. Members of the Center varied -- from a child using a computer to play educational games to an adult using a computer to work out stock investment schemes. Most importantly the members were given the chance to learn to compute for themselves and if they needed assistance there was always a LO*OP Center staff member ready to help. Only a year after they officially opened shop, the LO*OP Center brought the first Apple Computer ever manufactured into a school and they were one of the first organizations to do this. Apart from being a place for learning, the LO*OP Center was also a place to socialize. The LO*OP Center had a lounge that allowed people to comfortably sit and chat with one another. The LO*OP Center incorporated cultural diversity into their mission statement in 1986, and a year later taught educational technology to Senior Malaysian educators at Stanford University.Ten years later, as Loop predicted, computing became an active learning tool for education. However, important concepts discovered in this field by early educational technology pioneers were being forgotten.

Teachers today have not discovered the methods and discoveries found by the ed. tech pioneers because their philosophies never made it to the Internet. LO*OP Center took on the project to create a virtual museum called the History of Computing for Learning and Education, which can be accessed by anyone across the world. Unlike a traditional museum, HCLE’s virtual museum is found online. HCLE serves the same purpose as a traditional museum and also offers a similar experience. It collectively documents the use of computing from the 1960’s to the 1990’s, to actively promote learning as well as education. From her earliest days of computing Loop has collected around 10,000 print artifacts that contain information regarding computing in education. These artifacts include, books, magazines, scholarly articles, manuals, old computers, and much more. All of Loop’s artifacts are being added to the virtual museum. HCLE allows ed. tech pioneers to tell their stories and discoveries in the field of education through computing. Most importantly HCLE is striving to differentiate between computing in education and computers in education. There are plenty of museums, which tell the story of computers in education, more specifically the technology of the machine used for education. However, HCLE is a museum that tells the story of computing in education, focusing on some of the very first people behind the screen and how their discoveries in regards to the machine as an educative tool may impact society. “They had foresight and now they are dying and being forgotten. If I’m forgotten that is not so important. But if all of us are forgotten, that is a bad thing, I think,” said Loop. Educational technology pioneers philosophies are over due for exposure, and will now be made possible through the virtual museum-History of Computing for Learning and Education.