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450 BCE
Elder Sophists (EdTech Methods) 5th Century BCE
Champions for human growth through technology, the Sophists became foundation for modern university liberal arts curriculum containing a combination of arts and sciences and analytical teaching methods. Democratized education; Sophists claimed all are capable of accessing techniques, methods, and discovery to improve society (Saettler, p. 24-26). (Image: https://goo.gl/images/UgAu1k) -
Comenius (EdTech Methods) 1592-1670
Considered the greatest educator of his time, Comenius’ innovative and universally applicable language teaching methods and educational theory supporting the need for scientific research, a foundation for our modern universities, influenced the inductive method being “the modern concept of ed tech as an applied science in support of the practical arts” (Saettler, p. 31). His work wasn’t implemented in the US until the 19th century. (Image: https://goo.gl/images/JR52dA) -
Instructional Radio (EdTech Media) 1920s-1940s
Advances in AV technology weren’t fully realized during the Great Depression in the US, however the potential was. The NEA (now AECT) organized as a professional advocacy and research body for AV education. The US Government launched Voice of America (VOA) in 1942, and became a method for learning language globally. (Image and content: https://learningenglish.voanews.com) -
Instructional Film (EdTech Media) 1940s-1950s
Advances in technology during WWII made visually interesting films available to diverse audiences for training purposes for the war effort and industry. Research in media influencing learning and instructional methods presented. Increased availability to innovation integrated into teaching and classroom language instruction and informal study. (Image and content: British Council, http://shar.es/a1Bay8) -
Programmed Instruction (EdTech Design) 1950s-1960s
The movement to change programming materials to illustrate outcomes, educate teachers to write objectives, and classify behavioral objectives, and gauge the effectiveness of the materials began. Researchers like Skinner, Mager, Tyler, and Bloom produced and researched data on the effectiveness of the classroom materials on learner impact. This movement is credited as the introduction of systems approach to education. (Image: https://goo.gl/images/xqFcdV) -
Instructional Tools (EdTech Media) 1963
Created by Georges Cuisenaire (1891-1975) as a technology for students to improve math skills, the rods made an appearance in The Silent Way, an ESL method created by a math teacher, Caleb Gattegno, who used the rods to teach grammar structures and to create student-centered learning. They appear in classrooms occasionally when teachers use them creatively to teach pronunciation. (Photo: https://goo.gl/images/VaZTTz) -
Instructional Design Models (EdTech design) 1950s-1960s
The analysis, evaluation, and systematically designed materials and programs, were the processes of the early instructional design models presented by researchers and described by authors such as Banathy, et al. These models are employed to determine best practices to design, implement, and assess technology use in classroom instruction. (Image: https://goo.gl/images/2gSQeL) -
Instructional Television (EdTech Media) 1950s-1970s
Another major medium with instructional potential in the AV movement was educational TV programming. In infancy, programming was not engaging. Thankfully, generous foundations believed in the potential and supported public TV and educational and developmentally appropriate programming like Sesame Street (1969), where millions of children were exposed to culture, languages, civics, and relational constructs through entertainment. (Photo: https://goo.gl/images/q8mQpi) -
Instructional Digital Tech (EdTech Media) 1980s - present
Using microcomputers in the ‘80s as training and educational platforms was the beginning of a digital revolution that changed how humans create and access information. Ed systems implemented change models to employ innovations as digital advancement provided learning programs, software, web-based tools, and apps. Research on use, effectiveness, and of digital media in all learning, including ESL beg encompassed all these technologies. (Photo: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_128K) -
Instructional Design (EdTech Methods) 1990s-2000s
Constructivist theory strove to reflect authentic tasks in learning materials in which participants collaborate, take ownership and be metacognitively aware of learning (Driscoll, 2000). This collection of views from Constructivists have influenced Instructional Designers and the way they are creating content, systems, tasks, and simulations to enhance learning in business, industry, and education. (Image: https://goo.gl/images/pNY2kx) -
Instructional Design Tech (EdTech Methods) 2000
Online distance instruction has created myriad job opportunities in Instructional Design. The courses delivered for participants world-wide need to be carefully designed rather than just replicated from live teaching environments. This era of new technology must draw from a planned and systematic change model to determine the success or barriers the undertaking will reveal. (Image: https://goo.gl/images/eJQewf) -
Instructional Tools (EdTech Media) 2000s
The push to use authentic materials in the ESL classrooms were encouraged by Constructivism Theory from the 1990s. Many media have been used to help students understand language in authentic usage in written and spoken language through teachers’ creative ideas. Some authentic media are: maps, receipts, invoices, street signs, calendars, phone messages, podcasts, etc. (Image: https://goo.gl/images/n1yrBr)
