History

The Beginning

MECC began in an old warehouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota as part of the state of Minnesota’s educational software push.  While the state was the sole sponsor of the company, it was designed so that it could expand easily.  While the initial events which led to the creation of the company began in 1971 with the creation of Oregon Trail, MECC was officially started in 1973.

The 1970s

1971

News

  • November: An ad hoc committee called by the Commissioner of Administration agrees on the need for a statewide plan for all educational computing.

1972

News

  • May: Planning Task Force appointed.
  • October 20: Governor’s Joint Committee reviews the report and agrees to continue the process.
  • December 11: Joint Committee recommends that the report include information on funding needs for 1973–75.

1973 – The official beginning of MECC

Building

  • Room 800, Capitol Square Bldg., 550 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101.

Products

  • Hurkle, Oregon, Bagels, and Snark run on the mainframe system.

News

  • With legislative support, MECC (Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium) is founded.
  • “High priority areas for MECC service initially will include instructional systems, both time-sharing and batch-processing, and management information systems.”

1974

Building

  • 1925 Sather (Hwy. 280 at Roselawn), Lauderdale, MN 55113.

Products

  • Oregon is introduced to the MECC Timeshare system library. To hunt, type “BANG”.

Platforms

  • The MECC timesharing network becomes operational.

News

  • A full-time Training Department is established to “promote and support the best use of educational technology” in Minnesota.

1975

Building

  • MIS group composed of staff from MECC, TIES, and several school districts resides at 1925 County Rd. B2, Roseville, MN (TIES building).

Conference

  • May 9–10: MECC Statewide Timesharing Conference.
  • October: MECC sponsors a “computer arts” contest, open to Minnesota students in grades 7–12, in conjunction with the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Conference.

1976

Building

  • Due to a change in the driveway, the building’s address is now 2520 Broadway Drive, Lauderdale, MN 55113.

Platforms

  • Statewide MECC timesharing network uses a Univac 1110 computer and Teletype terminals in the schools.
  • MECC-MIS uses a Burroughs B6738 computer.

Conference

  • April 2–3: MECC/MAEDS (Minnesota Association for Education Data Systems)/TIES/MUA (MECC Users Association) Spring Extravaganza at Normandale Community College.

News

  • December: Apple I ships, from a garage in California.

1977

Products

  • Non-graphical version of Oregon Trail is produced for the two new microcomputers.
  • Control Data is awarded a contract to provide computer-assisted instruction (CAI) through MECC, using CDC’s PLATO system.

Platforms

  • Commodore Pet and Apple II computers debut.
  • Timeshare system uses a Control Data Cyber 73 Model 26 computer, under the KRONOS operating system.

Conference

  • 3rd Annual Spring Computing Conference May 6–7 at Irondale High School in New Brighton. Sponsored by MECC, TIES, MUA, and MAEDS.

1978

Building

  • MECC headquarters is at the U of M Computer Center in Lauderdale and the Hennepin Square Building in Minneapolis, with field offices in Moorhead, Hibbing, St. Cloud, and Marshall.

Platforms

  • September 21: After 9 months of research, the state microcomputer bid is awarded to Apple Computer, Inc. “For less than $2000, a complete system can be obtained which includes two BASIC languages, a mini assembler language, a diskette, communications interfacing capability, a hardware clock, and a television monitor.”
  • An instructional microcomputer task force is established.

Conference

  • Winners of the 2nd Annual MECC programming contest are announced at 4th Annual Spring Computing Conference.

News

  • The annual budget for the fiscal year ending June 30 was $4,734,057. Staff includes 75 full-time employees.

1979

Products

  • Nearly 150 Apple II programs written by MECC staff and MECC users are available on the timeshare system; many of these are also available on one to fifteen floppy disks.
  • MECC software distribution policy is available for 75¢ a copy.

Platforms

  • Apple II users are able to download and upload programs from and to the MECC Timeshare System.

Conference

  • 5th Annual Educational Computing Conference April 7 at Hennepin Technical Center North Campus, Brooklyn Park, MN. Winner of state computing contest is announced.

The 1980s

1980

Building

  • Offices at 2520 Broadway Drive are renovated so that all metro-area MECC employees, except for 6 MIS staff members, will be at the same site.

Products

  • A pilot project utilizes an Apple II and a Pioneer videodisk player for an economics class.

Platforms

  • Pilot program for using Apple II computers for MIS.
  • Initial study indicates that providing schools with an Apple II computer does not reduce their time on the timeshare system, but much of what they do on the timeshare system could be done on the Apple.

Conference

  • December 6: 7th Annual MECC Statewide Conference, held at Minneapolis Community College/Minneapolis Technical Institute. Computing contest winners announced in student and teacher brackets.
  • Spring conferences across the state.

News

  • Institutional memberships are offered. This allows districts outside of Minnesota to distribute MECC software within their organizations.

1981

Products

  • “By the end of January, 1981, all MECC Apple diskettes will have a comprehensive teacher support booklet to accompany them.”
  • MECC stops duplicating disks for districts; schools now duplicate their own from the single copy provided.
  • Apple II Courseware Releases: Designing Instructional Materials, Business Vol. 2–3, Elementary Vol. 7–13, Mathematics Vol. 2–4, Science Vol. 4, Guidance Vol. 1, Art Vol. 1, English Vol. 1, Programmer Aid Vol. 1, and School Utilities Vol. 1–2, plus books (22 titles, 121 programs). The Market Place is released for Atari.
  • Apple II and Atari Sales: 3,564 and 650, respectively.

Platforms

  • MECC begins supporting the Atari 400 computer, in order to offer a microcomputer in the $400–$600 range (computer: $257; disk unit: $243; black and white TV: $75); this necessitated a major conversion project.
  • Timeshare equipment is upgraded as provided in MECC’s contract with Control Data.

Conference

  • Spring conferences across the state.

News

  • The annual budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 1982, was $7,862,837.

1982

Products

  • Apple II courseware: Elementary Volumes 7 (kindergarten), 8–9–10 (geometry), 11/12 (language arts), 13 (nutrition); Mathematics Volume 2 (English measurement), 3 (geometry); Art Volume 1 (perspective); English Volume 1 (parts of speech); Teacher Utilities Volumes 2–3–4 (test and drill building); School Utilities Volume 1 (projections); Business Volume 2 (payroll simulation) and 3 (new version of MICAS).
  • MECC starts to develop MIS software for the Apple II.
  • Copy system starts creating protected copies.

Conference

  • MECC ‘82 (MECC’s first national conference), held at the Hotel Leamington. Keynote Speakers: Steve Jobs (co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Apple Computer) and Alan Kay (developer of Smalltalk language and Sr. Vice President of Research at Atari).
  • One question from a Wisconsin teacher “Is there a way to delete names and messages entered by students on the onscreen tombstones in The Oregon Trail?”
  • “We are holding our own in a tough, competitive market.”

1983

Building

  • 3490 Lexington Ave. No., St. Paul, MN  55112.

Products

  • Apple II Courseware: Electronic Spreadsheet, Experiencing Procedures, Three R’s of Microcomputers, Processing Words, Apple Assembly Language Training Materials, Spanish Language Math Practice, Nutrition Vol. 1–2, Food Facts, Health Maintenance Vol. 1–2, Heat Loss, Computer Generated Mathematics Materials Vol. 1–2, Automotive Technician Mathematics Vol. 1–2, Health Immunization Record Keeping, Special Needs Vol. 2, Blissymbolics: Blissboard, Bliss Library, Bliss Drills, and Grade Manager.
  • 10 titles for the Atari.
  • More New Software: The Friendly Computer, EZ LOGO, Classification, Basketball Statistics, Mind Puzzles, Grogins’ Fractions, Oh, Deer!, Adventures with Fractions, Problem-Solving Strategies, Early Addition, Practice Makes Perfect, Polls and Politics, Modeling, and Extensions to Applesoft BASIC.
  • Total Courseware Sales: 152,619 of 206 items. Courseware Development staff doubles in size.
  • MECC releases a booklet of Logo activities for students in grades 5–9.

Platforms

  • Timeshare network ceases operation. The last mainframe MECC used was a Cyber 720. Technical Services Department prepares to focus on supporting the use of microcomputers in the classroom.
  • Courseware conversions for Commodore 64 (100 packages), IBM-PC (30 packages), and Radio Shack (40 packages) computers. MECC continues to support Apple II and Atari computers.

Conference

  • MECC ‘83 “In the Land of 10,000 Computers” at the Radisson South Hotel. Free product: Using the Computer in the Classroom in-service training guide. Keynote Speakers: Floyd Kvamme (Executive Vice President for Sales, Apple Computer) and Philip Estridge (Division President, IBM).

News

  • The annual budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 1983, was $8,746,096.
  • MECC Maze contest—a student programming contest.
  • Quality circles are implemented within MECC.
  • 1983–84 MECC members include over 125 institutions in 47 states, all Canadian provinces, and 15 other countries, spanning 6 continents.

1984

Products

  • MECC now supports school microcomputer networks. Current copy protection is not network compatible.
  • Apple II—Processing Words, Writing a Narrative, Writing a Character Sketch, Nutrition and Food Groups, Getting Ready to Read and Add (French version).
  • IBM—The Three R’s of Microcomputing (The Glass Computer), Electronic Money, Blissymbolics: Blissymbol Concepts, and Teaching Assistant (French and Spanish versions).
  • Radio Shack—Word Games and Graphing.
  • Commodore 64—Elementary Math Logic.
  • Atari 400/800—Atari Font Editor.
  • MECC enters the home software market with The Friendly Computer, Early Addition, Problem-Solving Strategies, Mind Puzzles, Path Tactics, Jenny’s Journeys, The Market Place, Sound Tracks, and Paint with Words, priced at $29.95 each.

Platforms

  • Apple announces the Macintosh and new versions of the Lisa. These computers feature built-in 3.5” disk drives, hi-res graphic screens, and “use of the revolutionary ‘mouse’ hand controller for user interaction with the computer.” Prices range from $2,500 to $5,500.
  • Acorn conversion is begun in March.
  • More new MECC Apple II products will require 64K of memory, now that all Apple IIe computers come with 64K; both Logo and Pascal require 64K. Users should upgrade Apple II and Apple II+ computers to 64K.

Conference

  • MECC ‘84 “In a Good Climate for Educational Computing” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Free product: MECC Product Index (data disk for use with the MECC Data Handler). Keynote Speaker:  Curtis Johnson (Executive Director of Citizens League). Entertainment: Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop.

News

  • MECC (now Minnesota Educational Computing Corporation) is restructured to become a public corporation wholly owned by the State of Minnesota.
  • MECC begins packaging school software in white three-ring binders with diskette, backup, and support manual. Binders are “emblazoned with the new MECC logo.”

1985

Products

  • “Top Ten” Software Products for 1984–85 School Year (units sold): Word Wizards, The Friendly Computer, Problem-Solving Strategies, Early Addition, Puzzles and Posters, Master Spell, Mind Puzzles, Jenny’s Journeys, Paint with Words, and Grade Manager.
  • New Mastering Math series includes existing products (Early Addition, Circus Math, and Addition Logician) and new products (Space Subtraction, Subtraction Puzzles, Multiplication Puzzles, and Quotient Quest), as well as supplementary utilities (Diagnostic System, Management System, and Worksheet Generator). Other new products include: Word Munchers, First-Letter Fun, Contraction Action, Sky Lab, and an updated version of The Oregon Trail (now with cool graphics).

Conference

  • MECC ‘85 “In Minnesota: A State of the Art for Educational Technology” at the Radisson South Hotel, November 15–19. Free product: MECC Writer. Keynote Speaker: John Sculley (president of Apple Computer). Entertainment: The Happiness Emporium

News

  • Training and Staff Development Dept. is under contract with Apple Computer, Inc. as the principal provider of training through Apple’s Staff Development Program.
  • MECC has over 4500 non-Minnesota member school districts.

1986

Products

  • Top 10 for 1985–86 school year: MECC Writer, The Oregon Trail, Problem-Solving Strategies, Grade Manager, Puzzles and Posters, Computing Tools: AppleWorks (training guide), Word Wizards, Teaching Writing with a Word Processor (training guide), EZ LOGO, and Paint with Words.
  • Parents’ Choice Gold Award winners: First-Letter Fun, Word Munchers, Number Munchers, and Show Time.

Platforms

  • Two new Unix-based Plexus computers in Software Development are used for developing assembly language routines.
  • MECC is redesigning nine software packages for the Commodore 128.
  • MECC software can now take advantage of Apple IIe machines that have as much as 128K of memory, even though the programs still only require 64K.

Conference

  • MECC ‘86 “The Conference That Can’t Be Copied” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, November 21–25. Free product: Number Munchers. Keynote Speaker: David Porter (president of Carleton College).

News

  • November: Apple Computer, Inc. has contracted with MECC to provide special training events around the country for Apple’s educational customers.
  • MECC had the greatest number of highly-rated programs in the 1985 and 1986 editions of Only the Best, a well-known software guide.

1987

Products

  • 1986–87 Apple II Product Collection: Coordinate Math, Equation Math, Conquering Whole Numbers, Words at Work: Compound It!, Phonics Prime Time: Vowels I & II, and Phonics Prime Time: Blends and Digraphs.
  • Top Ten for ’86–’87 school year: Word Munchers, The Oregon Trail, Grade Manager, First-Letter Fun,Puzzles and Posters, Ghost Writer, Word Wizards, Discovery Lab, Math Vol. 3–Geometry, Elementary Vol. 7.

Conference

  • MECC ‘87 “Education and Technology: The Best of Both Worlds” at the Radisson South Hotel, November 13–17. Free product: Zoyon Patrol. Keynote Speaker: Albert Shanker (President of American Federation of Teachers). Monday Night Dance features the Whitesidewalls.

1988

Products

  • 1987–88 Apple II Product Collection includes Zoyon Patrol, To Preserve, Protect and Defend, Calendar Crafter, and MECC Dataquest: The World Community.

Platforms

  • The MS-DOS version of The Oregon Trail now runs on IBM PC/XT/AT, PS/2 and compatibles, with MS-DOS version 2.0 or later, one floppy disk drive and 256K of memory, and requires a CGA card.

Conference

  • MECC ‘88 “Sharing Today, Shaping Tomorrow” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, November 18–22. Free product: Spellevator. Keynote Speaker: Gene Maeroff (Senior Fellow at Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching). Monday Night Dance: Sweet 15 Party to Celebrate MECC’s 15th year with the Rockin’ Hollywoods.

News

  • 15 Years of Serving Educators

MECC Mission Statement:

MECC’s mission is…

  • to provide innovative, high-quality products and services in educational technology that meet the diverse and changing needs of educators and students, and
  • to maintain a supportive work environment that recognizes the creativity and dedication of staff and fosters profitable growth for the company. It is MECC’s privilege to serve education and to seek ways to improve it.

MECC Ideals:

MECC upholds three ideals to achieve its mission:

  • MECC Products complement and enhance the efforts of teachers and parents to promote effective student learning.
  • MECC Service strives in every way to anticipate and exceed customers’ expectations.
  • MECC’s Work Environment respects individual abilities, encourages creativity, and rewards excellent performance.

Other

  • January 1988 issue of Teaching and Computers lists 188 top software packages available to teachers; 22 of the titles are MECC products!
  • MECC is involved with St. Paul Schools in an innovative school project called “Saturn Schools of Tomorrow.”
  • April: For the first month ever, Dealer/Distributor orders top the $100K mark.

1989

Building

  • Distribution has moved to 1775 Old Highway 8, New Brighton.

Products

  • 1988–89 Membership Collection: Mystery Objects, Mystery Matter, Spellevator, Patterns, MECC Outliner, Mastering Math Textbook Connection, Computer Inspector, Miner’s Cave, Conquering Decimals (+,–) and (x,/), MECC Dataquest: North American Mammals, LabelMaker, Teacher Option Organizer, Apple IIGS for the Teacher, Wood Car Rally, Spelling Workout, Spelling Press, Conquering Fractions (+,–) and (x,/), Decimal Concepts, Chemistry: The Periodic Table, and MECC Product Presentations 1988–89.
  • New products include World and USA Geograph, Conquering Ratios and Proportions, MECC Dataquest:Latin America, MECC Dataquest: The Middle East and North Africa, Lunar Greenhouse, Time Navigator, Designer Prints, CommuniKeys, and Spelling Series Toolkit.
  • April 7: MMM version 1.0 is out the door!

Platforms

  • Word Munchers is ported to the Mac (Mac Plus or later running system 6.0 or newer).

Conference

  • MECC ‘89 “Recapturing the Vision of Educational Technology” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Free product: Time Navigator. Keynote Speaker: MECC Late Nite—“evening talk show destined to take the country by storm.” Monday Night Dance: 50s/60s Beach Dance with the Rockin’ Hollywoods.

News

  • Blazers All-Staff Meeting May 25. Topic: Profit Sharing.
  • May 20: The MECC Bill was signed into law by Governor Perpich, paving the way to look for new ways to fund continued growth and development. Next challenge–investigate options to raise investment capital.
  • MECC/UM Center is celebrating the launch of Will Steger’s Transantarctica Expedition; MECC will provide a satellite/computer link to classrooms with the help of Learning Link.
  • MECC tops list of Only the Best software publishers with 16 titles. 2nd: Sunburst (14 titles). 3rd: Brøderbund (11 titles).

The 1990s

1990

Products

• January 23: Project Explore is officially online and will continue until mid-February. Ten research sites and a Discussion Center enable classrooms to communicate with our five Antarctica content experts.

New titles: Chemistry: Balancing Equations, Five Star Forecast, Fossil Hunter, Murphy’s Minerals, Sun and Seasons; MECC Dataquest: Asia & Oceania, MECC Dataquest: Europe and the Soviet Union, Time Navigator Leaps Back, Estimation: Quick Solve I & II, Probability Lab, Spelling Puzzles & Tests, Storybook Weaver, Picture Chompers, Grammar Toy Shop, Designer Puzzles, and Instant Survey Sampler.

Platforms

  • May 4: Apple says they are “firmly committed to Apple II’s in the ‘90s” and that in the coming school year an Apple II emulator card will be available for the Macintosh to provide a “universal platform.”
  • September 7: Number Munchers and Word Munchers are the first MECC products available for all three major computing platforms: Apple II, Macintosh, and MS-DOS.

Conference

  • MECC ‘90 “Reaching Our Potential: A Decade of Opportunity” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Free product: Space Station Freedom. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Franklin Smith, superintendent of Dayton, Ohio, Public Schools. Monday Night Dance: MECC ‘90 Homecoming Dance with the Rockin’Hollywoods.

News

  • April 20: We have a new tag line! Past tag lines include “There’s no substitute for the experience” and “The Leader in Educational Technology.” Selected from more than 200 contest entries, our winner is “For the love of learning.” Prize for first place is $100.
  • MECC has set a goal of achieving more cultural diversity in the company.
  • Trophies from NECC for “Programs of the Decade:” The Oregon Trail, Odell Lake, Number Munchers.

1991

Building

  • June 28: Employees voted on names for the meeting rooms on their floors; everyone got to vote on the lunchroom (Destiny Dining, The Bleachers, Ten-Forward, Munch Room, Muncher Hall), the lunchroom annex (Club Room, Farm Room, Crayon West, Troggle Trough), and the conference room (Vision Room, Home Room, Minnesota Room, Oregon Trail).
  • July 15: MECC moves from “The Old Building” to 1660 Summit Drive North in Brooklyn Center (“The New Building”). Meeting rooms: Home Room, Club Room, and Muncher Hall on 1st floor; West Conference Room and Hide-A-Way on 2nd; Transformation Cell and Technical Circles on 3rd; Oval Office and Think Tank on 5th. Common Areas: TLC (Total Life Concept, health and wellness) Workout Room, TLC Library in Muncher Hall, and Sick Bay and Showers on 1st; Software Library on 2nd.

Products

  • 1991–92 Apple II Products include: Grammar Monsters, Storybook Weaver: World of Adventure, Estimation Strategies, The Living Cell, Paper Plane Pilot, Woolly Bounce, Lewis & Clark Stayed Home, Time Navigator Around the World.
  • SPA Awards of Excellence to Easy Color Paint, Number Munchers, The Oregon Trail, Paper Plane Pilot, and Sun and Seasons; Top 5 Programs of the Year Award to Wagon Train 1848.

Platforms

  • MS-DOS and Macintosh memberships are available.

Conference

  • 10th Anniversary Conference, MECC ‘91 “Forging the Future NOW!” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Free product: Bluegrass Bluff. Keynote Speaker: Carolyn Warner (nationally known for advocacy of educational accountability, integration of vocational and basic academic skills, and citizen participation in education decision-making). Monday Night Dance: MECC Conference Birthday party—a decade of MECC Conferences; music by the Rockin’ Hollywoods.

News

  • January 11: After 9 years as an organization owned by Minnesota education and another almost 7 years as a wholly-owned public corporation of the state, MECC is purchased from State of Minnesota by North American Fund II for $5.25 million.
  • March 14: Version 4.1 of the MECC ProDOS Amper Catalog. This was the last official compilation of the MECC ampers (assembly-language routines for Apple II products. The catalog featured such snappy titles as &HMENU, &WFK, &RFL, &SDUMP, &BANK, &RNH, &IMAGE, &DRAW, &PRINT, &HOOK, &TAKE, &PUT, &CHS, &BUFF, &NOBUFF, and &QFH, plus new ampers such as &ADREC, &GFMENU, and &SEED.
  • June 3: Founders stock options were distributed.
  • Ten MECC Schools of Excellence are named; these schools have  outstanding installations of MECC products and services, including MMM. None of these schools are in Minnesota.
  • MECC Catalog wins American Catalog Awards Silver Award.
  • The Social Committee adopts a new name: “Club MECC.”
  • MECC’s 401(K) program is implemented.

1992

Building

  • May: The Distribution Center is in its new site at 6523 James Ave. North.
  • MECC occupies 60,000 square feet of the Brookdale Corporate Center building (60% of all footage), including all of 1st floor, all of 2nd floor, a little more than half of 3rd floor, and all of the 5th floor.

Products

  • MS-DOS members received their 2nd and final shipment of 1991–92 products: Miner’s Cave, Mystery Objects, MECC Product Presentations. Mac members receive this shipment: The Oregon Trail, Presidential Inquiry, Writing and Publishing in Multimedia, MECC Product Presentations, and USA Geograph.

Platforms

  • January 17: Tech Support tests Trackstar, a hardware board for MS-DOS machines to run Apple IIe software.
  • Apple II software still represents MECC’s most important source of revenue.

Conference

  • MECC ‘92  “Bound for Tomorrow: Collaborating for the Task Ahead” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Free product: Freedom! Co-Sponsors: NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals), NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals). Keynote Speaker: Joe Scherer (educational lobbyist and consultant). Monday Night Dance: The Oregon Trail Celebration, with a D.J. and karaoke.

News

  • Spring: Muncher Munchies, a staff cookbook, is published.

1993

Products

  • 92–93 Apple II Shipment: Fish School, Grammar Gobble, Grammar Madness, Moving Museum, Windy City, Woolly’s Garden, Exploring Chaos, History Makers, Picture a Story, Rocket Factory (bilingual–Spanish and English!), Take a Chance!, Wonderland Puzzles, Dr. Livingstone, I Presume?, Freedom!, USA Geograph.
  • February: Freedom! has been discontinued and letters, both positive and negative, continue to come in.
  • New releases: Oregon Trail Windows disk and CD and BodyScope for Mac; The Amazon Trail, Arizona Mix, Canada Geograph II, CryptoQuest, DinoPark Tycoon, Dog Sled Ambassadors, MacStat, My Own Stories, Odell Down Under (for Mac and Windows), Storybook Weaver, Treasures for Sale, and USA Geograph II.
  • Among the discontinued titles: Grade Manager, Friendly Computer, Market Place, and Zoyon Patrol.

Platforms

  • October: Apple starts shipping all new Macs with built-in 2x  CD-ROM drives.
  • Windows products outsell DOS products for first time according to first quarter 1993 SPA figures.
  • 75% of computers found in K–8 member districts are still Apple II series.

Conference

• MECC ‘93 “A Cooperative Adventure To Benefit Our Kids!” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Free product: The Oregon Trail (CD-ROM). Co-Sponsors: NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals) and NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals). Keynote Speaker:  George McKenna III  (Superintendent of Inglewood Unified School District–Inglewood, CA). Monday Night Dance: All-School Dance with music from the ’40s through ’90s.

News

  • A video studio has been added to the Multimedia Room on 2nd floor, in the former Xerox room.
  • May 12: Taco-Taco Day, the First Annual taco lunch in Muncher Hall.
  • June 29: MECCTECH Premiere Technical Support Rollout.
  • July 14: MECC celebrated its 20th Birthday in Muncher Hall with cake and ice cream.
  • Compton’s New Media purchased by The Tribune Company.
  • Global Constructs, MECC’s Multicultural Design Considerations, are developed and shared with the Development Division, Sales, and Marketing.
  • MECC is listed in October 1993 issue of Corporate Report Minnesota as one of the state’s top high-tech companies. MECC is ranked 94th based on revenue.

1994

Products

  • New Mac/Win products: MathKeys, Troggle Trouble Math, Tesselmania!, Oregon Trail II, and The Yukon Trail.
  • New Apple products: Caravans to Timbuktu, Pet Shop, Number Jumpers, Rescue in the Outback, Science Giants, Sum Stories, and Word Builder.

Platforms

  • January 3: MECC C++ Programming Standards published.
  • CD-ROM development gets started.

Conference

  • MECC ‘94 “The Great Technology Get-together ’94” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, sponsored by MECC and TIES. Keynote Speaker: Therese Crane (V.P. and General Manager of Apple’s K–Grade 12 Education Division).

News

  • MECC goes public. January 11: MECC files IPO (initial public offering) with the SEC. March: MEKK stock is first traded on Nasdaq. Dec. 6: MECC stock now trades under the symbol MECC.
  • April 4: MECC articulates a 5-year vision statement and members of each division share insights on how to contribute to the vision over the next 5 years. (Oh, well.)
  • April 8: Taco-Taco Day, the third taco lunch in Muncher Hall.
  • November 23: All Development Staff were invited to boldly go see the new movie “Star Trek Generations.”

1995

Products

  • Apple II series: Woolly’s Birthday, Get Well, Woolly!, Quilting Bee, Flip-Flop, and Move Over, Mother Goose!
  • Mac/Win products: more MathKeys products, Tesselmania! Deluxe,  MayaQuest, and Opening Night.

Platforms

  • The MECC internal Corvus network, which supported Apple II series product development, is dismantled.

News

  • February 25: 1st Annual (and only!) Trailheads Jamboree at the Mall of America, featuring the national premiere of Oregon Trail II and a the unforgettable presence of Cody the Buffalo.
  • July 12: Taco-Taco Day, the fourth taco lunch in Muncher Hall.
  • Oct. 30: Merger agreement between MECC and SoftKey. Oct. 31: Wall Street Journal runs an article on SoftKey’s purchasing of MECC (stock deal worth $370 million) and TLC (cash bid of $606 million).

1996

Products

  • Mac/Win: more MathKeys, Big Science Ideas: Systems, Science in Your Ear, The Art Lesson, Spellevator Plus, Spelling ToolKit Plus, Word Munchers Deluxe, Amazon Trail II, and Explore Yellowstone.
  • MECC Interactive Explorer series features Oregon Trail Online and MayaQuest, both on the Internet.

News

  • March 29: SoftKey consolidates Technical Support in Knoxville, TN. At first, only Fremont and Marietta, GA are affected; MECC Tech Support gets “consolidated” to Knoxville in the May-July time period.
  • March 31st marks the end of MECC’s first year as a publicly-held company. To celebrate, some employees attended a pig roast at the Diamond T Ranch for the performance of “Let’s Kill the Boss” at the Mystery Cafe.
  • May: MECC is sold to SoftKey; purchase of MECC stock valued at $350,000,000. MECC marks “merger” in a mock marriage of The Muncher to Mr. Sports Illustrated 1996.
  • May 31 (from Star Tribune p. D3): “New owner SoftKey chops 50 jobs at Brooklyn Center software maker.”
  • October 24: Corporate name changed to The Learning Company, Inc.

1997

Products

  • Thinker Rabbit is canceled. Grade Builder: Geometry is canceled. Madeline is canceled.
  • The American Girls Premiere and The Oregon Trail 3rd Edition: Pioneer Adventures are released.

News

  • October: TLC acquires Creative Wonders from Electronic Arts and Disney for roughly $63 million.

1998

Products

  • Success Builder: Math Library, The American Girls Premiere: 2nd Edition, and Amazon Trail 3rd Edition: Rainforest Adventures are released.
  • ClueFinders’ Club Kit leverages work done for a possible American Girls Story Creator product.

Platforms

  • Oregon Trail III DVD is released.

News

  • March: TLC acquires MindScape.
  • June: TLC agrees to acquire Brøderbund for .8 TLC shares for each Brøderbund share. Pleasant Company announces purchase by Mattel, Inc.
  • TLC acquires SofSource and Virtual Makeovers ($11 million each for Cosmopolitan and Essence CDs).
  • October 2: Announcement of the TLC/Minneapolis site closing comes at 10:30 a.m.  in Muncher Hall, from Gib Biddle.
  • October 20: Taco-Taco Day, the fifth taco lunch (and this one was FREE) in Muncher Hall.
  • December: TLC acquires Palladium Interactive.
  • Greg Bestick gives his corporate presentation to assembled staff members. No questions were asked.
  • December 16: MECC/TLC Celebration, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

1999

News

  • TLC/Minneapolis will be closed.

Products

  • Oregon Trail 4th Edition and Road Rally (official names pending at press time) will be released.

In Memorium

The years have passed now and there are a number of folks who no longer are walking among us except in spirit.  This section is dedicated to those MECC alumni who live on in our memories and in our hearts. 

  • Don Anderson
  • Harriet Anderson
  • Bethel Bosquez
  • Dave Clausen
  • Julie Woodington DuCharme
  • Cyndi Gamble
  • Lynn Herkert
  • Joyce Montgomery
  • HaroldO’Brien
  • Lawrence Peterson
  • Rich Pomeroy
  • Steve Rakow
  • Jim Thompson
  • Pete Weinberg
  • Kurt Wolfel
  • Dave Wood