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The first handheld calculator prototype named "Cal Tech", and its development was spearheaded by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments. This significant development paved the way for the development of more pocket-sized calculators in the 1970s from other manufacturers such as Sanyo, Canon and Sharp. These calculators were very low on power consumption, portable, and rechargeable. For educational purposes, these calculators were primarily used to solve complex calculations in the area of mathematics. -
The year 1972 marked the development of the scantron sheets. For educational purposes, Scantron sheets were used for multiple-choice tests by students. Scantron machines were programmed with the multiple-choice test answers, which were then used to scan the multiple-choice test sheets for any incorrect answers. These sheets made the grading process much easier for teachers since they no longer had to sit and individually grade each test. -
In 1982, the world's first laptop called the "Osborne 1" was developed by Adam Osborne. Over the years from the date of invention, laptops have evolved allowing for new possibilities such as conducting research, taking notes, managing information, and communication in the area of education. -
In 1990, Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD ROM) became the primary form of storage across the world. For educational purposes, this was a means of storing educational data which includes software, programs, and videos. -
The SMART Board was developed by David Martin and Nancy Knowlton in 1991. Research states that this was an interactive whiteboard capable of providing touch controls similarly to a computer. For educational purposes, it provided more flexibility for teachers with their lesson plans and enhanced teaching by allowing for new teaching strategies. For students, it enhanced their learning experiences since it was capable of showcasing, videos, photos, diagrams etc. -
The USB Flash Drive which was developed in the year 2000, eventually became the primary form of storage after its predecessors, the CD-ROM and the Floppy Disk Drive . According to research, the USB flash drive was a compact portable device with significantly more storable memory than its predecessors. For educational purposes, the USB flash drive was primarily used by students to store assignments, presentations, essays, and research papers. -
A report titled, "Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994 - 2001" by the National Centre for Educational Statistics (NCES) showed that there was a growing increase with internet access in schools between the period 1994-2001. By the year 2001, survey reports showed that over 90% of American public schools had access to the internet. -
Use of computers became an integral part of teaching earning in the classroom. According to research, many micro computers were added to thousands of classrooms in public schools across the United States of America as a standard classroom feature during the year 2009. Reports showed that nearly 70% of elementary and secondary schools across the United States of America utilized computers for instructional purposes. -
During this period the popularity of mobile technology increased rapidly. For educational purposes, students brought their digital devices to classes which mainly included smartphones and tablets. For mobile convenience, many students used these devices to access academic resources. -
There has been a noticeable increase in the creation and use mobile applications for educational purposes. This evolution paved the way for online studying via eBooks, new learning methods, and enhanced interaction between parents teachers and students. -
The widespread shutdown of schools due to the global pandemic (Covid-19) influenced a dramatic increase in the adoption of online learning. In online learning for educational purposes, teaching is conducted remotely via digital platforms such as Zoom, Adobe Connect, and Google Classroom.