The life and growth of year 12 computing in Victoria: An ecological model

This paper seeks to apply the techniques of ecology, used in a wide range of fields, to analyse a series of events in the history of computing. The case analysed here is the history of development of computer studies curriculum at the senior level in high schools in the Australian state of Victoria. Although theoretically directed by a central body, development of the curriculum for the final high school year in computing shows a history containing many anomalies. Applying an ecological method to the historical narrative shows that seemingly illogical changes can be explained by the interaction of organisms and the environment in which the history has taken place. From this example we will show that ecological principles can also be useful in analysing an historical event.