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First Formal Degree Program by Mail Correspondence (CV)
"Improvements in transport infrastructure in the 19th century, and in particular the creation of a cheap and reliable postal system in the 1840s, led to the development of the first formal correspondence education, with the University of London offering an external degree program by correspondence from 1858"
Bates, A. W. (2015). Teaching in a digital age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning [Ebook]. Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/ -
Popularized Typewriter Developed & Mass Produced (CV)
Christopher Lathem Sholes developed the Remington typewriter which became the prototype for the modern typewriter. While writing machines had been in existence since the fourteenth century, the Remington was the first typewriter to be mass produced successfully. Carbons to Computers: Typewriters. (n.d.). https://smithsonianeducation.org/scitech/carbons/typewriters.html -
John Dewey Published "How we Think" (MM)
John Dewey (1971) published the first edition of How we Think, where he presents a five-step process explanation of how people think. This process includes stating a problem, defining the conditions, collecting data, making a hypothesis, and then making a decision.
Dewey, J. (1971). How we think. Chicago, Henry Regnery Company. Originally published in 1910. -
Teaching Machine Invented (RM)
Sidney Pressey invented a teaching machine, what is now considered a rudimentary LMS, that "resembled a typewriter with a window that could administer questions. One window was used to show the question and the other one to fill in the answer" (Knowly, 2020). Reference Knowly. (2020, July 8). History of LMS. EasyLMS. https://www.easy-lms.com/knowledge-center/lms-center/history-of-lms/item10401 -
Feedback as Process in Psychological & Human Science (RM)
In 1942, The Cerebral Inhibition Meeting identified "the primary link between machine and human functioning . . . as feedback" through which "new behaviors were influenced by . . . immediately preceding behaviors" (Sanford, 2019, pp. 5-6). Sanford, C. (2019). No More Feedback: Cultivate Consciousness at Work. InterOctave. -
Cognitive Constructivism (TD)
A learning methodology by Piaget that states new knowledge is built/constructed around the foundation of existing knowledge and is relevant to the stage of development. Citation:
Powell, & Kalina, C. J. (2009). Cognitive and Social Constructivism: Developing Tools for an Effective Classroom. Education (Chula Vista), 130(2), 241–.
Research in Science Teaching, 2(3), 176–186. doi:10.1002/tea.3660020306 -
BF Skinner's Programmed Instructional Materials (RM)
B.F. Skinner (1954) proposes a formative feedback process in which "present instruction in small steps, require overt responses to frequent questions, provide immediate feedback, and allow for learner self-pacing" to improve learning (Reiser, 2001, p. 59). Reiser, R. A. (2001). A history of instructional design and technology: Part II: A history of instructional design. Educational Technology Research and Development, 49(2), 57–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02504928 -
Bloom's taxonomy
Bloom's taxonomy is a set of three hierarchical models used for classification of educational learning objectives into levels of complexity and specificity. -
SAKI First Adaptive Teaching (TD)
Invented by Gordon Park and Robin McKinnon-Wood, this machine adapted the questions presented to students based upon past performance. -
Teaching Engineers (RM)
Ramo (1958) describes educational technology researchers as "teaching engineer[s]" who are "concerned with the educational process and with the design of the machines, as well as the design of the material.” (Ramo, 1958, p. 6) -
Educational Process as "Man-Machine" Process (RM)
Ramo (1958) proposes that "the brain and senses of the human teacher must be extended by new engineering systems . . . , including feedback as a concept in automatic or semi-automatic lecturing" to allow teachers to focus on more complicated teaching tasks (p. 37). Ramo, S. (1958). A New Technique of Education. IRE Transactions on Education, 1(2), 37–42. https://doi.org/10.1109/TE.1958.4322021 -
PBL Project Based Learning (TD)
This method of learning focuses on a central real-world problem allowing collaborative groups in a student centered fashion. This method was influenced by the works of Dewey in the early 1900(s) Citation:
John Dewey, Education and Experience, 1938/1997. New York. Touchstone. -
British Government establishes Open University with BBC (CV)
"In 1969, the British government established the Open University (OU), which worked in partnership with the BBC to develop university programs open to all, a combination original printed materials specially designed by OU staff, and television and radio programs made by the BBC but integrated with the courses."
Bates, A. W. (2015). Teaching in a digital age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning [Ebook]. Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/ -
Handheld calculator (MM)
The first handheld calculator became available in 1970. They were allowing students to abandon the slide rule for quick calculation. The concepts of mathematics (and statistics teaching) could now be more easily balanced with calculation. National Museum of American History, Behring Center, (n.d). Electronic Calculators -- Handheld. -
ADDIE Instructional Design Model (TD)
Originally created by Florida State University, this model created an optimized approach to instructional design through several steps: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. Citation:
Kurt, S “ADDIE Model: Instructional Design in Educational Technology, August 29, 2017 -
Gagne's nine events of instruction
Gagne created a nine-step process called the events of instruction, which correlate to and address the conditions of learning. -
Problem Based Learning (MM)
One marker of the beginning of problem-based learning is the first graduating class at McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences (Barrows, 1996). The instructors used problem-based learning to teach medical students based on this new idea.
Barrows, H. S. (1996). Problem‐based learning in medicine and beyond: A brief overview. New directions for teaching and learning, 1996(68), 3-12.
Image: Gorkaazk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons -
Instructional Scaffolding (TD)
Influenced by Vygotsky's ZPD and later coined by Bruner, this method takes learning content and breaks them down into manageable "chunks" for students to learn before introducing the next portion of information that builds upon the previously learned "chunk". Citation:
Wood, D., Bruner, J. S., & Ross, G. (1976). The role of tutoring in problem solving <sup>*</sup>. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 17(2), 89-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1976.tb00381.x -
Bandura's Social Learning Theory (MM)
Bandura's Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977) describes a theory that describes learning as a process of observing but also receiving feedback that encourages the learned behavior. Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. -
Vgotskys Zone of Proximal Development (MM)
In 1978, Lev Vgotskys proposed the zone of proximal development. In this zone, a learner could get an initial distance in problem-solving on their own, but with peers or an instructor could go a little further in problem-solving. The challenge for instructors is to find this zone without going too far beyond what they can achieve at that moment. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge,
MA: Harvard University Press. -
Mezirow's Transformation Learning Theory (MM)
In 1978, John Mezirow published his first article that used his transformational learning theory. The theory applies to adult learners and the stages they undergo in the learning process. He established ten steps of the transformation. His first article discusses women returning to schooling after being out of education for a time. Mezirow, J., & Marsick, V. (1978). Education for Perspective Transformation. Women's Re-entry Programs in Community Colleges. -
Generation Effect (MM)
The generation effect is that people are more likely to remember something if they create it themselves (Slamecka & Graf, 1978). Slamecka, N. J., & Graf, P. (1978). The generation effect: Delineation of a phenomenon. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 4(6), 592. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.4.6.592 -
Social Constructivism (TD)
A theory of learning that is based around peer and societal impacts on constructing ones knowledge. Teaching and learning through social collaboration. (Vygotsky) Citation:
Vygotsky, L., & Cole, M. (1978). Mind in society: Development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press. -
Personal Computers and Higher Education (CV)
The first special issue of Educational Technology ( a peer-reviewed journal) dedicated to the the definition and application of microcomputers or personal computers in higher education is published.
Bork, A., & Franklin, S. (1979). Personal Computers in Learning. Educational Technology, 19(10), 7–12. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44421403 -
Team-Based Learning (MM)
Larry Michelson developed the idea of team based learning in the 1980s. It is characteristics by students completing activities in class that follow under the "4 S" rule: specific choice, simultaneous report, significant problem, and same problem (Sibley and Ostafichuk, 2015, p.6) Sibley, J. & Ostafichuk, P. (2015). Getting Started with Team-Based Learning. Stylus Publishing. -
Biggs and Collis SOLO taxonomy (MM)
The taxonomy allows the instructor to score based on the complexity of the understanding. The scoring system starts with stating a straightforward fact forming a partial mental model to apply the concept to a new area. (Biggs & Collis, 1982). Biggs, J. B., & Collis, K. F. (1982). Evaluating the quality of learning: The SOLO taxonomy (Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome). Academic Press. -
TCP/IP adopted in higher education (TD)
TCP/IP is a computer based framework for communication and is the backbone protocol for internet transmission. 1983 University College London adopted this protocol and subsequent universities followed. Citation:
NIHF inductee Robert Kahn invented internet protocol. (n.d.). National Inventors Hall of Fame®. https://www.invent.org/inductees/robert-e-kahn#:~:text=Robert%20Kahn%20and%20Vinton%20Cerf,IP%20that%20implements%20the%20architecture -
Kolb's experiential learning theory (MM)
Kolb's experiential theory is a four-part cycle, including "active conceptualization", "concrete experience," "active experimentation," and "reflective observation". The cycle can be entered anywhere. (Kolb, 1984) Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development (Vol. 1). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. -
Hofstede Cultural Dimensions (MM)
Hoftstead (1984), after surveying employees at IBM, established the first four cultural dimensions: power distance, individual/collectivism, risk, and masculinity/feminity. These cultural dimensions play a part in virtual exchanges in higher education. Hofstede, G. (1984). Cultural dimensions in management and planning. Asia Pacific journal of management, 1(2), 81-99. -
Cognitive Load Theory (TD)
Developed by John Sweller, this theory discusses the amount of information the working memory can actively hold thus informing instructional method for higher education. Citation:
Sweller, J., Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning, Cognitive Science, 12, 257-285 (1988). -
Peer Instruction Method (TD)
Popularized by Mazur, this method of instruction empowered students to learn from one another based on independently and collaboratively solving a posed problem. After the student participation, the instructor provides feedback and explanation. Citation:
Vickrey, T., Rosploch, K., Rahmanian, R., Pilarz, M., & Stains, M. (2015). based implementation of peer instruction: A literature review. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 14(1), es3. Photo:
Brooke Cagle Unsplash -
Plagiarism Detection Software Invented (RM)
iParadigms LLC deployed an internet based plagiarism detection service called Turnitin in response to national concerns about plagiarism impacting the value of earned degrees. Meo, S. A., & Talha, M. (2019). Turnitin: Is it a text matching or plagiarism detection tool?. Saudi journal of anaesthesia, 13(Suppl 1), S48–S51. https://doi.org/10.4103/sja.SJA_772_18 -
Learning objects
Learning objects are content items or small pieces of educational content that can be delivered individually or grouped together to achieve a learning goal. -
Community of Inquiry Framework (MM)
The community of inquiry framework is a model to consider the relationship between students, content, and the instructor in an online course (Garrison, Anderson, and Archer, 2000). Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education model. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2-3), 87-105. -
Mobile Learning Integrated in Formal Education (CV)
Palmtop computers also know as PDAs, were introduced in formal higher education and would evolve into the the m-learning landscape of cellphone and wearable technology.
Pedro, L. F. M. G., Barbosa, C. M. M. D. O., & Santos, C. M. D. N. (2018b). A critical review of mobile learning integration in formal educational contexts. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-018-0091-4 -
e-Learning Standards
Standards that would describe content, assessment tools, courses, and more ambitiously, learning design. -
Open Educational Resources (OER)
Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others. -
SWoRD: Scaffolding and Peer Review with Software (RM)
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh developed peer review software to foster the writing process and simulate professional writing practices in disciplines that view writing as a critical skill to disseminate discourse. Cho, K., & Schunn, C. D. (2007). Scaffolded writing and rewriting in the discipline: A web-based reciprocal peer review system. Computers & Education, 48(3), 409–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2005.02.004 -
Web 2.0
Tools of technology that allow teachers and students alike to create, collaborate, edit and share content online that is user-generated. These can include tools for presentation, research, collaboration, audio, video, slideshow, images, music, drawing, writing, organizing, mapping, quiz and test generation, file storage and web pages, and also tools for graphing and conversion. -
Second life and virtual worlds
Virtual worlds like Second Life are becoming important tools for, among other activities, socialization, social networking, entertainment, collaboration, and business development. -
High impact practices (MM)
Kuh (2008) created a list of impactful educational activities for students underserved by higher education. A few of these practices include common intellectual experiences, first-year experiences, collaborative assignments, learning communities, undergraduate research, writing-intensive courses, and service learning. Kuh, G. & Schneider, C. (2008) High-impact educational practices: What they are, who has access to them and why they matter. Association of American Colleges. -
Term MOOC is Coined (CV)
The Extension Division of the University of Manitoba in Canada offered the first "MOOC" as a non-credit course titled "Connectivism and Connective Knowledge". 2,200 students enrolled in the free online version.
Bates, A. W. (2019). Teaching in a digital age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning (2nd ed.) [Ebook]. Pressbooks. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/teachinginadigitalagev2/ -
Connectivism learning theory
Connectivism promotes learning that happens outside of an individual, such as through social media, online networks, blogs, or information databases. -
Personal Learning Environments (PLE)
The term personal learning environment (PLE) describes the tools, communities, and services that constitute the individual educational platforms that learners use to direct their own learning and pursue educational goals. -
Learning analytics
Learning analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for purposes of understanding and optimizing learning and the environments. -
Digital badges
Digital credentials help translate learning outcomes into validated skills that both students and employers can understand. -
AAC&U Names ePortfolio Eleventh High-impact Practice (CV)
The Association of American Colleges and Universities expanded their list of ten high-impact practices to include eportfolios
Watson, C., Kuh, G., Rhodes, T., Penny Light, T., & Chen, H. (2016). Editorial: ePortfolios – the eleventh high impact practice. International Journal of EPortfolio, 6(2), 2157-622X. -
OECD Global Competencies (MM)
In 2018, OECD (Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development) defines global competence as having four areas."Examine local and intercultural issues. Understand and appreciate the perspectives and world views of others. Take action for collective well-being and sustainable development. Engagement in open and appropriate and effective interactions across cultures."
OECD, (n.d). Programme for International Student Assessment.