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Period: 1492 to
Colonial Years
In the colonial years, wooden paddles with printed lessons, called Horn-Books, were used to assist in learning verses. -
The Chalkboard!
In the early 1800's classrooms across the country introduced a new "innovative" technology that many teachers ignored at first, one that we all know very well, the chalkboard! -
The "Magic Lantern"
A primitive version of a slide projector was introduced to classrooms in the 1870's that included images projected from a glass plate was introduced to classrooms and by the end of World War I there were over 8,000 in circulation just in the Chicago public school system. -
The Pencil
The pencil that we all know and love was finally introduced to classrooms in 1900,after this introduction it was clear that students were hungry for more advanced educational tools. -
Period: to
Student Enrollment
The U.S. department of education reports that in 1900 high school enrollment was only 10% but by 1992 it had skyrocketed to 95%! -
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison stated in 1913 “Books will soon be obsolete in the
schools. Scholars will soon be instructed through the eye. It is possible to teach every branch of human knowledge with the motion picture. Our school system will be completely changed in ten years." while we still are not quite at that stage it seems as though it will soon be a reality. -
The Radio
In the 1920's the development of the radio gave rise to on-air classes that allowed all students within listening range to tune in and learn together. -
Overhead Projector
In 1930 the overhead projector entered classrooms revolutionizing the way teachers were able to present information to students. -
Period: to
College Enrollment
The number of students in college in 1930 was around 1 million, but by 2012 had grown to a record 21.6 million. -
Headphones
Headphones were introduced to classrooms in the 1950's allowing students to listen to instruction individually without distracting others. -
Photocopier
The photocopier was introduced to classrooms in 1959 allowing teachers to give students slips of paper that were already filled out to a certain extent rather than copying down information by hand, no doubt saving time on needless work and allowing more time for learning. -
Handheld Calculator
In 1972 the handheld calculator allowed students to do calculations they already know, in a fraction of the time. -
Scantron
In addition to the handheld calculator 1972 came with the introduction of the scantron which allowed teacher and associations to test students and grade in a much more efficient manner. -
Introduction of Computers
When computers were first introduced to classrooms in the 1980's, they were seen as a system that was aimed to take instructor's jobs and the general populace did not approve. -
The World Wide Web
The World Wide Web was given life when a British researcher developed Hyper Text Markup Language, or HTML in 1990, and once it was made available to the public in 1993 the world had access to research and communication that resulted in a revolution of education. -
Learning Management Systems
In the 2000's on Learning Management Systems allowed students and teachers to communicate in real time over geographic distance. -
Computers in the classroom
By 2009 97% of classrooms had one or more computers in the classroom and teachers stated that 40% of students used computers often in their educational methods. -
The Cloud
With the ability to upload information from one computer and download it on another came about in the 2010's, came another wave of uses, from online grading to assignments and videos. This allowed the amount of information able to be accessed to increase exponentially. -
Cell Phones in Class
Three out of every four teens uses a mobile device to access the internet. This leads to an increase of distraction in the classroom as students have the ability to "leave" the classroom on a whim. pg.188 -
Blogs
Blogs can be used in the classrooms to keep students involved with each other and not just the material pg.192 -
Word Processers
Word processers are used to make work on computers more efficient, the ability to copy-paste and have your spelling automatically checked helps shorten the time spent on clerical work and expand the time for learning. pg. 192 -
Collecting Data
Teaching students to use sensors, cameras, and probes at a young age will give them a distinct advantage when tasked with similar challenges later in life, especially if said students are entering STEM fields. pg 192 -
Multimedia
Using multimedia to teach can give students like Prezi or Powerpoint can use text, graphics, audio, and video to give students a deeper understanding of the material. -
Digital Imagery
As many students are visual learners and science programs in the past have not been able to provide images for some problems/examples, the introduction of digital imagery allows programs to provide a cost-effective method of showing these things to students. pg. 199 -
Simulations
Simulations can be used in many different branches of education. From science to criminal justice to social studies, being able to show students how certain situations play out with different causes and effects gives students a deeper understanding of the topic. -
Virtual Field Trips
Especially in the current climate students have not been able to visit places their predecessors were able to. This may be due to COVID-19 or something as simple as budget constraints, but something like a virtual field trip will allow an alternative method, allowing students to experience close to the real thing. pg. 202-203 -
Foreign Language and ASL
Many new programs have given students with difficulty communicating the ability to learn more efficiently and feel more involved in the classroom and socially. When students are able to translate their words almost instantly they are much more motivated and willing to learn. -
Feedback
Because student use of technology often requires critical thinking skills, teacher feedback is during the working can often be a catalyst for deeper understanding. -
Professional Communication
The inclusion of technology in education extends beyond the classroom. Being able to communicate with colleagues and parents allows educators to tweak their instruction to better fit their students and tell parents how they can better support their children outside of the classroom. -
Equity
Underprivileged children are more likely to use computers in a rigid drill-and-practice format as opposed to a more flexible format. It is just as important that all students are given the proper instruction when using tools and not just the tools they need to succeed. -
Virtual Reality
Some time in the near future students will be able to experience virtual reality very close to real life. This will allow students to experience things like never before, being able to walk through the rainforest, on the moon, or scuba diving in a coral reef will hopefully give students a deeper appreciation and understanding for the universe around them. -
Citations
“The Evolution of Technology in the Classroom.” Purdue University Online, online.purdue.edu/blog/education/evolution-technology-classroom. “A History of Education Technology.” The Institute of Progressive Education and Learning, institute-of-progressive-education-and-learning.org/a-history-of-education-technology/. Ryan, K. Those Who Can, Teach: 14th Ed. Wasdworth Cengage Learning, 2016.