Introduction:

    This webquest will free you from some of the time spent in class listening to a lecture on the history of computers.  Instead, you will navigate websites to answer questions and create a timeline summarizing the important events in the history of computers.
 
 

The Task:

    Using the premise of answering the questions and creating your timeline you will use the Internet to assist you in exploring the history of computers.  Your summary timeline may vary from that of other student's depending on what you deem to be important.  After investigating all of the information, you should understand the past trends in computer history and be able to reasonably predict future trends.  You will also have an understanding of the major companies involved in the history of computers as well those individuals who impacted the computer industry.

The Process:

1.  Using the Internet you will need to visit the following websites:

2.  Answer the following questions in written form. Please note that some questions are multi-part.

     a.  Name three companies involved in the manufacturing of computers during the 1970's.

     b.  Who founded the Amateur Computer Society and in what year?  Why is it considered

          significant?

     c.  What month and year was Microsoft established?

     d.  What month and year was Apple Computer Company established?

     e.  What was the first computer language program written for a personal computer and who

          authored it?

     f.  What was the original purpose of the ENIAC?

     g.  What major company helped fuel Microsoft's success?  How?

     h.  When was the first mouse introduced?

     i.  How did the stored program concept influence computing? 

     j.  Name six people you feel were influential in the history of computers and explain why for

         each.

3.  Review the timelines that you saw on the Internet.

4.  Now create your own timeline beginning with the year 1960 and ending with the present.

5.  Mark fourteen (14) events on the timeline that you feel were the most significant.  You may

     find it helpful to narrow the topic of your timeline.  For example narrowing your subject to

     "The History of Microsoft", or "The Speed of Computers Throughout History" may make this

      task easier to handle.

Evaluation:

    The ten questions must be completed in written form.  The timeline should be constructed to take up no more than one page.  Each question (a. through i.) is worth 8%. Question j. is worth 12%, 1% for each person listed and 1% for each reason.  The timeline is worth the remaining 16%, one percent for each event. The questions and the timeline will be graded based upon accuracy and completeness.

Conclusion:

     Upon completing this webquest you should have a good understanding of where computers began and to where they have evolved.  You should understand the significance of specific individuals and businesses that have influenced their growth.  Based on what you have learned, where do you think computers will be when your children are in school?  That might be fun to research and predict!  You never know, I have been known to give extra credit!

Credits and References:

     Thanks to Ken Polsson for creating his Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers web page and to Jeremy Meyers for his work on A Short History of the Computer web page!