| Description | Track 1 [00:58:08] [Session One:8 September 2017] Janner Herd [JH], born Maesteg, Glamorgan, 1950. JH mentions childhood home in Bettws, between Ogmore and Garw valley. Remarks on early schools; Bettws Primary school and Garw Grammar school. Mentions passing the eleven plus exam. Mentions attending Garw Grammar school in 1962. Remarks that Garw Grammar school became Ynysawdre comprehensive school in 1966.[00:01:42} JH talks about parents, father part owned a shop in Bridgend. Mother worked in an ammunitions factory in Tondu House during World War Two designing bombs. JH comments on mother giving up work after she got married to have children. JH has older brother and a twin sister. [00:02:26] JH describes academic interests at school and how her parents’ interests influenced her: Mentions mother’s scientific interests and father’s encouragement in being aware of world events and politics, especially American politics. [00:04:33] Describes choosing further education studying Biological Sciences at Wolverhampton Polytechnic 1969-72, after being head hunted by Universities due to the shortage in the 1960/70’s for scientists. Remarks on doing Infant/Junior Teacher Training Course in Cyncoed Teacher Training College, Cardiff which was original preference. [00:06:10] Description of early working career at Dyffryn Lower Comprehensive school, Port Talbot. Remarks on progression to the upper school to teach Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics. Comments on being part of a working group that set up the West Glamorgan single and double science scheme, later the Welsh Joint Scheme which led to every examination board in Great Britain taking it up as a subject that was offered to pupils. [0:07:44] Mentions the 1970s workplace culture in Dyffryn Lower Comprehensive school where men and women did not mix, separate staffrooms. JH describes the unequal treatment of men to women and difficulties of meeting with male. Comments on the benefits of having single and double science within the curriculum. [00:11:34] Mentions computer studies being offered in schools in 1978. Description of rising interest in computer courses in late 1970’s. JH describes attending Swansea University’s two year postgraduate diploma course in Computer Studies, 1981-1983. Mentions this course was set up for teachers, to enable teachers to teach A level Computer Studies. [00:13:31] Describes format of Computer Studies course, attending Swansea University on Wednesday afternoons until 10pm. Comments on attending lectures, creating programs and writing essays. Describes using Pascal and Cobal computer programs. Description of 15 course attendees. Mentions JH was only woman to complete course, where men out numbered women. Mentions attaining a diploma in computer studies at the end of the course. Remarks that Swansea University’s postgraduate diploma course in computer studies was ground breaking at that time. Mentions the Swansea University diploma course, paid for by the Local Education Authority (LEA), led to the teaching of “O” and “A” level computer studies courses in schools. Mentions how teaching of computer studies was mainly theoretical in 1978. Remarks that Swansea University had a room of computers which helped to see the practicalities of what you were teaching. Mentions having a Commodore Pet 8K with a tape machine to record programs at home. Remarks that daughter Elizabeth was one of the first children in the Great Britain to be taught by computers. Mentioned that Elizabeth’s introduction to computers at an early age led to familiarisation and success at attaining an O level in computer studies. Discussion on computers used in Swansea University during the postgraduate diploma course in computer studies. [00:24:36] Mentions Phil Grant[PG] and Pete Townsend [PT] as being the key staff teaching the postgraduate diploma course in computer studies at Swansea University. Remarks on [PG] and [PT]’s ability to nurture the class. Story of fun, social times with the computer studies group. Mentions frequenting the Refectory on the Swansea University Singleton Campus with course group. Description of Vivian tower where the postgraduate diploma course in computer studies was held at Swansea University in relation to the Singleton campus at that time.[00:31:36] Describes job as Head of IT at Morriston Comprehensive school. Mentions setting up conference “Industry in Action and approach to new technology” in 1985 Mentions many teachers at the time were wary of computers and thought that computers would replace them. [0:46:29] Description of JH’s secondment as a schools’ link officer in 1990/91. [00:50:43] Describes retirement and finding another job with National College for School Leadership in Cranfield setting up online communities between small networks of schools. Discusses health. Mentions co-writing a craft book and had been on a cruise ship to teach crafts and local history. |