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John Dewey's Democracy and Education Published
PBS: John Dewey’s book Democracy and Education is published, suggesting that people learn best from experience. This was central to the Progressive Movement in education, and a change from the authoritarian style and rote memorization present in classrooms. -
Seven Cardinal Principles of Education
The National Education Association issues the seven Cardinal Principles of Secondary Education. This report identified the main objectives of education for children ages 12 to 18, with an overall philosophy that the curriculum should consider the student’s future professional and educational goals. -
United States Enters World War II
History.com:Japanese forces attack the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The following day the United States would declare war on Japan and officially enter the second world war. -
World War II Exposes Education Deficiencies
Encyclopedia.com:
Five million men were rejected from the draft for educational deficiencies, and the differences in education of all men were considerable. This led to a more standardized curriculum. The need for vocational training was enormous as soldiers left numerous vacancies in service jobs. More science was added to the curriculum after the war, prompted by the breakthrough of the atomic bomb. Some educators advocat -
First Vacuum Tube Computer Built
PBS:The first vacuum tube computer, ENIAC, is built at the University of Pennsylvania by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert. -
First Use of a Computer in the Classroom
A principle of Relevant and Applied Curriculum is the use of Real-World Tools and Resources. This was first accomplished with computers by a project that was reported by Rath, Anderson, and Brainerd that used an IBM 650 to teach binary arithmetic to students. -
The Vocational Education Act Passes
The Vocational Education Act passes, providing funds to states to maintain, improve, and develop vocational-technical education programs in high schools, offering a curriculum more relevant to future careers. -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act brought more money into schools than ever before. Although intended to help primarily poor students, it also provided funding for more technology in schools. -
Computer Literacy Encouraged in School Curriculum
Andrew Molnar, director of the Office of Computing Activities at the National Science Foundation, coins the term computer literacy as he warns that students without sufficient technological skills will be educationally disadvantaged. -
Apple I Introduced
4/1/1976 – Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak introduce the first Apple I, which was developed in Jobs’ garage and sold for $666.66 at the local electronics store. -
Apple II in Schools
PC Magazine:Apple II computers found in nearly every school in the United States, because PCs better fit the teacher /manager model of instructional delivery. Educational games such as “Number Munchers” for basic math, “Where in the World in Carmen Sandiego?” for geography, and “The Oregon Trail” for history make learning come alive for the students. -
SMART Boards Introduced
The first SMART Board is introduced, making classroom instruction simpler and more interactive than with a basic whiteboard. Two decades later school districts are pushing to provide interactive whiteboards in every classroom. -
Modern Theorist Fred Newmann
ASCD: Modern theorist Fred Newmann of the University of Wisconsin insists that authentic instruction must have value beyond school. This means that student work should have significance outside of the classroom, rather than the simple purpose of rating the student's performance, to be truly effective in learning. -
Information Superhighway Established
Time: The internet becomes accessible to the public as businesses like America Online make it easy to navigate with user friendly windows and menus. -
Schools Wired for Internet Access
Time:About 80% of American schools are wired for access to the internet, but many do not understand how this facilitates learning. "Linkages to the Outside World" is the final principle of Relevant and Applied Learning, which was more difficult before the internet was available. -
No Child Left Behind
Education Week:President George W. Bush signs the No Child Left Behind Act into law. The primary intent of this law was to increase student achievement, but it also included funding changes that allowed states to allocate more funds for technology in classrooms. Unfortunately it also increased the use of standardized testing, hindering efforts to make the curriculum more experiential. -
iPads in the Classrooms
Many schools are replacing textbooks with ipads, giving students access to information from several classes quickly and easily. These can also be connected to interactive white boards, allowing the students to participate in the lesson through technology.
