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Period: 500 BCE to 380 BCE
Sophists
Sophistry - Elder Sophists operated as freelance teachers in competition with each other. -
Period: 1200 to
Scholasticism & Comenius
Abelard developed scholasticism which led to the rise of European universities. Comenius proposed a system from kindergarten to university where learning was studied according to the developmental stage of the learner. -
The Horn Book
Wooden paddles with printed lessons of the alphabet and religious verses. This was used to teach students how to write. -
The Magic Lantern
Projected images printed on glass plates and placed in darkened rooms to students. -
Period: to
Kindergarten & The Four-Step Method
95,000 pupils were enrolled in Kindergarten by 1880, thanks to Friedrich Froebels influence and students. Following this educational movement was the application of systematic psychology and the four-step method in schools trending across the USA. Herbartians wrote most of the educational texts and dominated educational journals. -
Period: to
School Slate/Chalkboard
Blackboards/chalkboards became used throughout the 19th century in nearly all classrooms. They were simple to use and effective for teaching. -
Pencil Integration in Schools
Versions of the pencil can be traced back hundreds of years, but what’s considered the modern pencil is credited to Conté, a scientist in Napoleon Bonaparte’s army. It made its impact on the classroom, however, it began to be mass produced in the 1900s. -
Educational Radio
The radio was introduced in the educational system in the early 1920's. -
Film Projector
Designed to bring movies to the classroom. Thomas Edison predicted that “books will soon be obsolete in schools due to this invention." -
Sputnik Launch & NDEA
In response to the Soviet Union's launch of the satellite Sputnik, the U.S. passed the National Defense Education Act (1958), which provided federal funding to boost math and science education. Also, Congress established NASA. -
Television
First used in education in the 1960s, for schools, and for general adult education. It was used for educational programs to add value to the classrooms. -
Period: to
Computers for Education
Computers were introduced for educational purposes in the 1960’s using advanced learning systems. The purpose to introduce computers was for individualized instruction using the method CAI (computer-assisted instruction). In the 1980’s, computers gained interest for instructional purposes; more than 40% in all elementary schools and more than 75% in all secondary schools in the U.S. -
Period: to
Educational Theories & Practices
B.F. Skinner wrote the book The Science of Learning & The Art of Teaching, Bloom published the Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, and Gagné published Conditions of Learning. The emergence of criterion-referenced test, which measured an individual's ability to perform a particular set of behaviors regardless of how others perform. The US Military started to become interested in formal instructional design methods. -
Handheld Calculator
The first handheld calculators were created by Texas Instruments which weighted 45 ounces and can be found today at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. -
Educational Robots
In 1969, Seymour Papert invented the first educational robot called a Turtle. It was an addition to the computer language Logo, which he'd designed in 1965 specifically for educating children. -
Internet
Using the Internet for instructional purposes grew tremendously as well as the amount of technology available. Newer media gained a lot of attention due to interactive capabilities. Computers present information in a variety of forms, attracting the interest of a constructivist perspective and a focus on performance technology. -
Period: to
Distance Learning & MOOC
The use of the Internet for distance learning grew and courses had to be carefully designed to incorporate instructional features that aligned with online classes (connectivism). Learning management systems provided the online teaching environment or spaces for learning. The distinction between using computers for programmed learning and to enable students and instructors to communicate with one another emerged (Bates, 2019). -
Period: to
C-Space/STEM Education
In 1995 Berlin launched the first hackerspace called C-Base. This was a concept where groups of computer programmers could meet to work and share infrastructures and new skills. Later on, when the price of maker tools were more affordable and available to the public, schools started to integrate a concept called STEM Education through makerspaces. This included 3D printers, desktop laser cutters and CNC routers and more. -
Period: to
LMS
It was developed to simplify teaching and learning enabling teachers to create and organize assignments quickly, providing feedback efficiently, and easily communicate with classes. For example: Blackboard, Google Classroom, and Canvas -
Interactive Whiteboard/First Laptop with Wi-Fi
Interactive system that uses a touch-sensitive white screen, a projector, and a computer. The first Wi-Fi-enabled laptop was launched in New York City by Apple's founder, Steve Jobs. -
Instructional Media
In 2007, students and teachers were able to access even more advanced technology tools like scratch coding, which helps to improve student engagement and improve student collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking skills. -
Period: to
Social Media
Social media covers various technologies, such as blogs, YouTube videos, tablets, and social networks that allow for online communities of practice. As time passes, new technologies evolve and are integrated into formal education (Bates, 2019). -
Virtual Reality
In 2010, when the contemporary VR headset began to emerge, their integration in schools became more widespread. PC-connected VR headsets allowed students to zoom in on parts of a desktop screen and "immerse" themselves in an image. -
Mobile Learning: iPad/Tablets
Used as learning tools since many educational apps can be downloaded to them. They are used to engage and motivate learners and allow for interaction. -
Drone Technology
Drone technology was refined, and prices began to drop, which made drones much easier for schools to get their hands on, albeit with low adoption rates at first.