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Government Embracing The World Wide Web
In 1994, the United States Census Bureau became one of the first government agencies to set up a presence on the World Wide Web, a significant milestone that showed how far computing had advanced in the previous 50 years. This moment also served as a significant signal of the internet's rapidly rising popularity, which educational institutions such as San Antonio College would quickly understand and welcome. -
When SAC Faculty Went Digital and the Software Shift
Due to the popularity of the web and the ease of getting graphical user interface (GUI) software, San Antonio College bought many computers for its faculty. This allowed instructors to learn and use these increasingly popular tools to effectively record grades and develop better educational resources for their students. -
Making Internet Access Easy for Students
In 1995, 23 new computers were installed in the SAC library and linked to its CD-ROM drives. This upgrade gave students major opportunities to broaden their understanding of the course material and learn new skills. It also helped their shift to adopting computers as necessary instruments for furthering their educational careers. -
Start of Online Courses in SAC
San Antonio College experienced a historic event in 1996, when it launched its first catalog of online courses. Although these courses could only be accessed on campus and not from home, they represented a historic turning point in education, reflecting the growing influence of the internet and the rapid expansion of tech titans such as Microsoft and Apple, who were transforming how information was created, shared, and consumed in academic settings. -
Rise In Personal Computing from 1992 to 1997
This statistic from the United States Census Bureau highlights the significant increase in personal computer purchases in America, demonstrating that in the early 1990s, specifically in 1992 and 1993, approximately 3.925 million personal computers were purchased, but by 1997, that number had grown dramatically to 18.38 million, reflecting the rapid adoption of technology during that period. -
Grades no longer mailed in SAC
The Ranger published an article announcing that San Antonio College would no longer keep physical records of student grades, but would instead post grades online on the college's webpage. This development echoes the faculty's increasing use of user-friendly software, which has helped students in becoming more comfortable with computers. It also matched with a nationwide increase in personal computer ownership, making it easier for SAC students to access their grades online. -
Academic Software That Saves Time and Money
This article notes SAC's library bookstore offering academically priced software with the promise of saving students 'time and megabucks.' This not only shows how affordable and accessible technology has become as a result of the rise of the web and personal computing, but it also foreshadows a significant shift heading into the 2000s where the wave of digital integration will continue to elevate the role of technology in academic life to unparalleled heights.