MECC
6160 Summt Drive North
Minneapolis, MN 55430
USA

Year Founded: 1973
Year Defunct: 1999


The Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (later Corporation), most commonly known as MECC, was an organization founded in 1973.
The goal of the organization was to coordinate and provide computer services to almost all schools in the state of Minnesota, however its software eventually became popular in schools throughout the entire United States.

As microcomputer technology appeared its educational uses were examined. In 1978 it appeared that features needed in the classroom, such as a graphical display, were available. Through an evaluation and bidding process, Apple II computers were chosen by MECC for state schools. Any school in the state could buy these computers through MECC without having to go through complex evaluation and purchasing procedures. Many schools started using the Apple II, and MECC produced educational software for them. In 1979 some MECC programs for the Apple II could be downloaded from the timesharing system. In 1981 the Atari 400 and Atari 800 machines were also supported by MECC.

As use of microcomputers increased, the demand for the timesharing system decreased. The timesharing system was shut down in 1983. MECC created or converted programs to the Commodore 64, Radio Shack, IBM PC, and Apple Macintosh computers.

It also created educational computer programs, primarily for use in libraries and public schools. During its lifetime, the company produced a number of programs that have become well-known to American Generation X and Y students, such as The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary, The Oregon Trail, The Yukon Trail, The Amazon Trail, Odell Lake, Number Munchers, Lemonade Stand, Spellevator, Storybook Weaver, Freedom! and DinoPark Tycoon