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The Information Age
The Information Age: the time period from 1956 to the present. Named for the rapid growth of technology.
https://www.churchgrowthnetwork.com/freebies2/2015/3/13/the-information-age -
Overhead Projectors
The decades from the 1940s to 1960s witnessed the widespread adoption of different types of optical projectors. These projectors made use of optical mechanisms and bulbs for projecting images. Overhead Projectors are used as visual aids to help the learner view a visual representation of the content to be learnt.
http://en.jmgo.com/enblog/blog/the-history-of-the-projectors
http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2013/02/vision-learning-history-classroom-projectors -
PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations) system
This device was widely was used in colleges. It was a time-shared computer system that allowed educators and students to use light resolution graphics terminals and educational programming language. PLATO’s development foreshadowed modern electronic mail.
https://chip.web.ischool.illinois.edu/people/projects/timeline/1960won.html -
IBM launches Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter
This device allowed for typed material to be edited without requiring that the original document be retyped. This marked the beginning of word processing as it is known today. Students can use this device to type formal letters and present class assignments in an organized manner.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric_typewriter -
Handheld Graphing Calculator
“Cal Tech” was the codename used for the device during its development, which was released commercially in 1970. The 45-ounce calculator featured a small keyboard with 18 keys and a visual output that displayed up to 12 decimal digits. Mathematical calculations could have been done by teachers and students.
https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2012/11/calculating-firsts-visual-history-calculators -
Email
The program called Premiere, which allows text messages to be sent out over a network. This program was further developed to allow users to reply, list, and forward mail to different users.
https://chip.web.ischool.illinois.edu/people/projects/timeline/1972nguyen.htm -
Cassette recorders
Now there are free apps that can record just about anything. But in the 1970s, when students had an oral exam, or really needed to record their foreign language competency, the cassette recorders were utilized. Just remember-if you mess up the tape, you can always use a pencil to roll the film back in place!
https://www.eschoolnews.com/2013/05/10/10-ed-tech-tools-of-the-70s-80s-and-90s/2/ -
Computer Assisted Instruction
Dring the 1970s, many schools in the United States began acquiring microcomputers and putting them to use for
instruction, drill and practice, record-keeping, and other applications in the classroom setting.
https://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/Computer-AssistedInstruction.pdf -
The Floppy Disc
The 3.5-inch floppy disks were the most common PC storage disk. Teachers and students utilized floppy discs as a means of transporting files from one computer to another computer in and outside of the classroom setting.
https://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Basis/floppy_disk.html -
Laptops
The laptop was invented by Adam Osborne in 1981. It was called ''Osborne 1" and cost $1,795. It came bundled with $1,500 worth of programmes. It had a tiny computer screen built into it. It was invented by Osborne Computers. Early uses was primarily done in Mathematics.
https://www.quora.com/Which-company-made-the-first-laptop -
The CD-Rom
The CD-ROM was initially designed to store music, but evolved into so much more. It was able to hold large amounts of text data, so much so, that more than an entire encyclopedia could fit on a single disc making it a useful storage device for classroom instruction.
https://www.cbc.ca/archives/4-ways-the-cd-rom-was-wowing-us-in-the-mid-1980s-1.4780869 -
PowerPoint Presentations
PowerPoint was designed to facilitate visual demonstrations for group presentations in the business environment. Presentations are arranged as a series of individually designed “slides” that contain images, text, or other objects. Version 1.0 allowed users to generate text and graphics pages for black-and-white handouts, notes, and overhead transparencies. It had been incorporated as a teaching tool in the classroom
https://www.britannica.com/technology/Microsoft-PowerPoint -
90s- The Computer Age
This is the ear when the use of computers and its related products took off -
Word Wide Web
The World Wide Web is basically an application running on the Internet that enables ‘end-users’ to create and link documents, videos or other digital media, without the need for the end-user to transcribe everything into some form of computer code.
https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/chapter/section-8-1-a-short-history-of-educational-technology/ -
Smartboards
It was the first interactive whiteboard that was able to provide touch controls in the same way as a computer. It comprises of an interactive whiteboard, projector and whiteboard software that accepts touch input from a “smart” pen, finger or any solid object. It was useful for note taking, brainstorming, games and using all forms of media. Accommodates different learning styles.
https://www.sutori.com/item/the-invention-of-the-smart-board-1991-the-smartboard-was-invented-by-david-ma -
Launch of first LMS (WebCT)
LMSs provided an online teaching environment, where content can be loaded and organized, as well as providing ‘spaces’ for learning objectives, student activities, assignment questions, and discussion forums. These were primarily used in colleges.
https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/chapter/section-8-1-a-short-history-of-educational-technology/ -
USB Flashdrives
Their purpose was to store documents and other data. Students and teachers utilized these devices within the classroom especially for storing lesson content and assignments.
https://www.premiumusb.com/blog/who-invented-the-usb-flash-drive -
The Interactive Age
This age saw the rise of "new media" in the forms of computer animations, computer games, human-computer interfaces, interactive computer installations, websites, and virtual worlds. Classroom teaching and learning was about to launch into new frontiers making learning more engaging and exciting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media -
Gamification
Game-like environments can be beneficial for students since a combination of immediate feedback and strong visual stimuli makes them want to repeat activities over and over again. Using principles of game mechanics in educational software results in better user retention. Students can earn digital badges, scaffold learning and cooperative problem-solving.
https://yalantis.com/blog/virtual-reality-and-gamification-two-biggest-trends-in-edtech/ -
Facebook
Facebook is associated with young people and ‘millenials’. Facebook is well integrated into formal education with its main educational value being to foster online communities of practice. Teachers develop educational pages on which they post educational materials in the form of videos, learning content.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/facebook-when-started-how-mark-zuckerberg-history-harvard-eduardo-saverin-a8505151.html -
YouTube
Launched where individuals could record and share their own videos without cost, the website is now owned by Google. YouTube is increasingly being used for short educational clips that can be downloaded and integrated into online courses. Khan Academy started using YouTube in 2006 for recorded voice-over lectures using a digital blackboard for equations and illustrations.
https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/chapter/section-8-1-a-short-history-of-educational-technology/ -
iTunes U
Apple Inc. in 2007 created iTunesU to became a portal or a site where videos and other digital materials on university teaching could be collected and downloaded free of charge by end users.
https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/chapter/section-8-1-a-short-history-of-educational-technology/ -
iPad
The iPad addressed the individual learning styles of students with a one-to-one approach to teaching and learning. iPad provided educators with tools they need to shift from traditional pedagogy to classroom instruction, allowing students take ownership of their learning.
https://www.apple.com/jp/education/docs/ipad-in-education-results.pdf -
Apple watch
Apple watch is a wearable version of the iPhone having the capacity to download educational apps, albeit with a much smaller screen. Its uses in the classroom range from monitoring heart rates and activity in PE, timing tests, students can download class reminders and schedules.
https://www.parentapps.co.uk/how-the-apple-watch-can-help-in-education/ -
Online classrooms, Virtual Meetings
In 2020 educational technology now encompasses online classrooms such as Edmodo, Google Classroom. Students and teachers can communicate and share learning content via spaces such as Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts and many other platforms. It is truly a remarkable time to be a student and educator!
