History of Instructional Design and Technology

3300 BC - The adoption of cuneiform

Jan 1, 1800

The adoption of cuneiform which is a piece of clay that contains some of the earliest writings in the World (BBC, 2012). This is significant because it was the earliest form of writing that was recorded and it set in motion the recording of civilizations and their history.

Lantern Slides

Jun 11, 1849

lantern slides where introduced and could be viewed by small groups or even large groups. This changed how people could view photographs and made it possible to use them in an entertainment or educational setting. Source: The Library of Congress: American History. Lantern Slides: History & Manufacture. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/landscape/lanternhistory.html

Chicago Slide Library

Jun 11, 1895

When a group of ten enthusiastic principals organized a projection club and each contributed $25 to a slide fund, the schools were able to use a new type of technology that would help instruction in the classroom. However, the actual technology is not the only reason why this was such a momentous occasion. The fact that principals and Chicago schools were contributing time, resources and money to this program meant that for the first time a large group of people saw the great need for instructio

First School Museum opens in St. Louis

Jun 11, 1905

This began the use of media for instructional purposes. It also set the precedent in education that teachers and textbooks were the primary means of presenting instruction and that instructional technology was supplementary. Source: Reiser, R.A. & Dempsey, J.V. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Boston: Pearson.

The first catalog of instructional films was published by George Kleine

Jun 11, 1910

This was significant because it contained over 1000 films that could be rented by schools for classroom instruction.

the AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology) was formed

Jun 11, 1923

In 1923, despite the economic effects of the Great Depression, the AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology) was formed by a merger between three existing national professional organizations for visual instruction. Source: Reiser, R.A. & Dempsey, J.V. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Boston: Pearson.

RCA Educational Hour began

Jun 11, 1928

This was one of the first schools to be broadcast on the radio. They where sponsored by the National Broadcast Company.

The “Eight-Year Study“ was published

Jun 11, 1934

Ralph Tyler also known as the father of the behavioral objectives movement and publish the “Eight-Year Study “ which was a study of the importance of objectives and behavior. While employed at Ohio State University, Ralph Tyler conducted a study of high schools and colleges throughout the nation. His study focused on college entry preparation. Source: Reiser, R.A. & Dempsey, J.V. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Boston: Pearson.

The birth of educational television

Jun 11, 1936

While TV’s didn’t become popular until the 1950’s, prior to this date it was being used for instructional purposes. Educational television is still used today through programs such as PBS Kids,

Visualizing the Curriculum

Jun 11, 1937

Visualizing the Curriculum is written by Charles F. Hobon, Sr., Charles F. Hobon, Jr., and Stanley B. Zissman. This established the view that audiovisual material could be used to make concepts presented in a concrete manner rather than an abstract one. Source: Reiser, R.A. & Dempsey, J.V. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Boston: Pearson.

The U.S. Army Air Force produced more than 400 training films and 600 filmstrips

Jun 11, 1943

During the war the U.S. Army Air Force produced more than 400 training films and 600 filmstrips and in the given time frame, there were over 4 million showings of training films to U.S. military personnel. This is important because it sped up the training of troops which helped in winning the war. Source: Reiser, R.A. & Dempsey, J.V. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Boston: Pearson.

Ken Olsen and Robert Everett develop the Whirlwind

Jun 11, 1950

An electronic computer, the Whirlwind, was designed as a flight simulator for training combat pilots at Massachusetts Institute for Technology. Source: Slagter van Tryon, P. (2012). EDTC 6010 History. Retrieved from https://blackboard.ecu.edu

Focus shifts towards models and theories of the communication process

Jun 11, 1950

Before World War II, the audiovisual movement was concerned more with the medium of instruction rather than the process of communication. Starting circa 1950, models and theories focused on the elements of communication which involved “a sender and a receiver of a message, and a channel, or medium, through which that message is sent” (Reiser, 2012, p. 19). This new movement shifted away from the centralized focus on the lecturer (sender) and medium (channel).

IBM starts work on Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI)

Jun 11, 1950

CAI was designed to be implementing in public schools. Source: Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Growth of instructional television

Jun 11, 1952

Federal Communications Commission set aside 242 television channels for the exclusive user of education.
Two contributing factors, decision by FCC creates funding to set aside 242 channels for educational purposes, and The Ford Foundation spent more than $170 million on educational television. Source: Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

B. F. Skinner publishes his article, “The Science of Learning and the Art of Teaching”

Jun 11, 1954

During the early 1950s, Skinner conducted research on operant conditioning and animal learning. His discoveries led him to a connection that suggested human learning benefits from “programmed instruction.” The programmed instruction movement was propelled by his publication. He introduced an instructional development system and process that encouraged the idea of objectives, trial and revision procedures, and positive reinforcement and feedback. Skinner’s work became the cornerstone for advances

Soviet Union launches Sputnik

Jun 11, 1957

Soviet Union succeeds in launching the first orbiting space satellite. The success shocks U.S. government into pouring funds into education (especially in math and science).
Source: Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Robert Gagné publishes his book, The Conditions of Learning.

Jun 11, 1965

As an extension of what Skinner introduced in systematic instruction, Gagné elaborated on the analysis of learning objectives and the different learning outcomes. He took the systems approach even further by categorizing different “events of instruction.” To emphasize the instructional design, Gagné created diagrams that matched up objectives and outcomes with teaching activities (events of instruction). His book expanded on the idea of instruction as a systematic design and approach

Michael Scriven emphasizes the need to assess instructional materials before they are in the final forms and coins term “formative evaluation.”

Jun 11, 1967

Though the idea of formative evaluation had already been discussed and introduced by Skinner, Michael Scriven first expressed concerns over teaching materials being properly tested and revised before they reached final forms. He coined the term “formative evaluation.” The significance of this event comes mostly from Scriven’s encouragement of testing and revision.

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is established

Jun 11, 1969

The Public Broadcasting Service was established to select and distribute instructional television programming to public television stations.
Source: Slagter van Tryon, P. (2012). EDTC 6010 History. Retrieved from https://blackboard.ecu.

Intel introduced the first single microprocessor chip (Intel 4004)

Jun 11, 1971

Without a microprocessor chip, a computer could not “think.” While the microprocessor chip was invented years before by Dr. M.E. Ted Holf, Intel took the circuit and downsized it to fit in a single chip. It was not very useful for a few years while others tried to figure out how to use it. It is still used in computers and other technologies today.
Source: Larsen, D. (2009, Feb. 9). The history of microcomputers ---“ important date” stones 1971-l981. Retrieved from http://www.lcfarticles.com/ar

Terminal Interface Processor

Jun 11, 1971

The first Terminal Interface Processor (TIP) is deployed on the ARPANET, which enabled computer terminals to connect directly into the ARPANET for the first time. I believe this is important to Instructional Design because this was one of the first stages to the creation of the internet. When information is shared more freely from one person to another, it helps the field of ID.
Source: Anderberg, A. (2007). History of the internet and web. Retrieved from http://www.anderbergfamily.net/ant/hist

Professor Michael Molenda was hired as the first full-time IST instructor.

Jun 11, 1972

I find this event to be significant because it was the beginning of taking this notion of instructional technology seriously enough to have it be taught at the university level. Bring it forward to today, and Instructional Technology and Media graduate programs at numerous universities are flush with eager participants. In addition, school systems are using funds to employ personnel in jobs that are specific to Instructional technology.
Source: Ndea to ist years: 1957-1972. (2012). Retrieved fr

TICCIT

Jun 11, 1972

MITRE Corporation and Bunderson and associates from BYU began developing Time-Shared, Interactive, Computer-Controlled, Information Television (TICCIT). TICCIT used minicomputers and televisions for English and math computer-aided instruction (CAI) at the community college level. CAI at the community college level, it would only be a matter of time until computers were a common staple of instruction in the elementary and secondary school setting.
Source: Slagter van Tryon, P. (n.d.) Instruction

Software for e-mail.

Jun 11, 1972

BBN's Ray Tomlinson creates the first software (SNGMSG and READMAIL) that allows email to be sent between computers, email quickly becomes the network's most popular application. This event is significant due to the sheer nature of what it started. Email is the #1 form of communication in almost every workplace today. In my own work, it is rare that the phone in our school library actually rings.

The Ethernet was invented

Jun 11, 1973

Ethernet was created to allow computers to communicate across an entire building. This invention changed the infrastructure of businesses.
Source: Bellis, M. (n.d) Inventors of the modern computer. Retrieved from http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa111598.htm

Basic software was invented

Jun 11, 1975

Bill Gates met with the Altair 8800 (computer) inventor, Ed Roberts, to work up a deal to create a program that would run on the computer. Gates and his partner, Paul Allen, created Basic in only 4 weeks. This creation led to
his eventual departure from Altair to create what we know today as Microsoft. Obviously, this event is critical in the development of technology since it’s one of the major software companies around today.
Source: Larsen, D. (2009, Feb. 9). The history of microcomputers

Journal of Instructional Development began publication.

Jun 11, 1977

This is important because it allowed those interested in technology to share their knowledge and ideas with others.
Source: Reiser, R. A. & Dempsey, J. V. (2012). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (third ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Mindstorms

Jun 11, 1980

“Papert’s (1980) book Mindstorms showed how children could invent and create using the LOGO computer language. The premise put forth by Papert was that learning could take place in interaction with tools for construction, and computers could be general purpose tools for letting learners construct artifacts that reflected their understanding of a wide variety of domains.”
Source: Dempsey, J.V. & Reiser, R.A. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology: Third Edition. Boston:

IBM Personal computer

Aug 12, 1981

IBM releases the IBM Personal computer. It retailed for between $1500 and $4500 and sold more than 65,000 in the first 4 months. This event makes the top of my list due to several reasons; the first being the invention/release of a personal computer. This was the beginning of the desktops, laptops, iPads, Kindles, etc. that we have today. In addition, the cost of the device is drastic compared to what a personal computer can be purchased for today.

Microsoft Windows

Nov 10, 1983

Microsoft formally announced Microsoft Windows, operating system that would provide a graphical user interface (GUI) and a multitasking environment for IBM computers.
Source: Bellis, M. (n.d.). The unusual history of microsoft windows. Retrieved from http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventions/a/Windows.htm

Cable in the Classroom and Channel One

Jun 11, 1989

Cable in the classroom initiative is started by the cable industry to give public and private schools free access to educational programming. (Miller, Mary and Teresa Cruce. A 20th Century Timeline: Classroom Use of Instructional Film, Radio, and Television. Cable in the Classroom (CIC) is the national education foundation of the U.S. cable industry.

Tim Berners-Lee creates the world-wide web

Jun 11, 1990

This increases the availability of information to students and educators alike.

Increase in Distance Learning and internet access.

Jun 11, 1995

50% of schools had internet access in 1995, increasing to 90% in 1998. 78% of public four-year colleges offering distance learning.

Blackboard LLC

Jun 11, 1997

Blackboard
LLC was founded in 1997 by two education advisors, Matthew Pittinsky
and Michael Chasen, as a consulting firm to provide technical standards
for online learning applications.
Blackboard
Inc. and technology like it provide powerful and easy-to-use systems
for educational instruction, communication, and assessment.
Bradford, P., Porciello, M., Balkon, N. ((2007)). United University Professions. In THE BLACKBOARD LEARNING SYSTEM. Retrieved September 20, 2011, from http://www.uupi

Apple presents iPod

Jun 11, 2001

Apple
introduces the first iPod which allows users to easily put their music
onto a sleek and small MP3 player. With the release of newer models,
Apple was able to move beyond music to movies and videos, podcasts, and
apps.
Apple, retrieved September 17, 2011 from Apple’s website.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2001/10/23Apple-Presents-iPod.html

iPad and other tablet devices

Jun 11, 2010

Apple
and other companies essentially create their own version of the
Microsoft Tablet PC. By including many of the wonderful features of Mac
and PC computers, tablets have become the next step in technology
integration that puts a computer-like portable device in the hands of
students.
Time, retrieved September 19, 2011 from Time’s website.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/
0,28804,2029497_2030652_2029804,00.html