Schools in control? Questions about the development of the teaching of cybernetics

The paper considers the role of he teaching of cybernetics and control technology in the National Curriculum (Technology) in England and Wales, and the limitations of its horizons. The scope of software currently available to schools is surveyed and the range of possibilities of this software is considered. Alternatives to current practice drawn from modern technologies which embody their own design methodologies are considered. These methods include object oriented methods, machine learning and neural computing. The fact that these systems are based on clear conceptual design methodologies should make them attractive to educators. The paper concludes that there is a need to develop new curriculum methods to accommodate newer methods.