Virginia is for Computer Science Lovers. Since the introduction of the desktop computer more than 30 years ago, public education has struggled with how -- and why -- to integrate computers in classrooms. In those early days computer classes primarily focused on programming. Basic programming language was widely offered in schools nationwide. Email Me Updates: Then came education’s love affair with productivity software. Applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint transformed the workplace. And they transformed the purpose of computers in the classroom. Today the classroom computer is the new pencil. The new calculator. The new slide projector. The new textbook. The new standardized test administrator. The new poster board.