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...or rather the pencil as we know it. Pencils had been around since the 16th Century, but a man named Hymen Lipman added the eraser in 1858. The ability to erase mistakes on paper revolutionized the classroom.
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Revolutionized the classroom: "if the result of the work should, at any time, be found infelicitous, a sponge will readily banish from the slate all disheartening recollections, and leave it free for new attempts." -J.H.Stickney, superintendent of Boston Training School, 1870
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The Magic Lantern projected images from a glass slide onto a screen using a candle and magnifying lens, truly revolutionizing the classroom.
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The only pre-1900's piece of technology included on the list, and one that is still around (for now), the chalkboard revolutionized the classroom.
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“Books will soon be obsolete in schools. Scholars will soon be instructed through the eye.” -Thomas Edison. The film projector allowed students to see concepts in motion, which revolutionized the classroom.
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First attempted by NYC's Board of Education and later brought to millions of students, radio broadcasts allowed students to listen to lessons from top educators from their very own classrooms- which were, of course, revolutionized by the invention,
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The overhead projector eliminated the need for pages of pre-written notes, as the teacher could simply wipe off and reuse plastic transparencies, revolutionizing the classroom.
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A real game-changer, the introduction of the personal computer to schools allowed students to use interactive software to learn. This invention revolutionized the future of the classroom.
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VHS tapes allowed for the recording and playback of broadcasted television shows, allowing teachers to use and reuse informational videos and revolutionizing the classroom.
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Scantron created special, machine-readable paper, which allowed a great volume of multiple-choice tests to be graded quickly and efficiently. This invention revolutionized standardized testing and, in turn, the classroom.
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With the invention of the interactive whiteboard, students could now interact with their lessons rather than simply observe them, which revolutionized thoughts about teaching styles, technology, and the classroom.
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More and more schools are making the switch from bulky, costly textbooks to digital-formatted E-books. One tablet can store a student's entire course load of books, which is revolutionizing the classroom.
