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Jamestown Colony
Schools in Jamestown were developed in 1618. The first public school was called "Colledge" of Henricus, which was designed to educate colonists and Native Americans. The formation of the first school covers a key educational theory of behaviorism due to learning students now in a new learning environment. Source: http://www.virginiaplaces.org/population/schools.html -
Harvard University
The Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony founded Harvard University in 1636. The university was named after a donor named John Harvard who provided more than 400 books and an enormous amount of money to the school. Source: https://www.harvard.edu/about/history/ -
New England Colonies
Public schools in New England started in 1647. Massachusetts towns with at least 50 families were required by law to have a school. The schools were all just one room and taught lessons from a book called "New England Primer." Source: https://www.historycentral.com/TheColonies/Education.html -
First Female College
Wesleyan College in Georgia was the first college exclusively for women. It strived to provide an education equal to men's colleges. It was a major shift in education since it was focused on males previously. The key theory covered is Social Learning Theory. Females were encouraged to succeed by learning with peers of the same gender and not as educationally oppressed as they previously were. Source: https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/education/wesleyan-college/ -
Impact on Schools from the Great Depression
Around 20,000 schools closed down due to low funding. Students had to bring their own supplies, teachers were scarce since schools could not pay for them, and the curriculum was cut down due to a lack of resources. Sources: https://www.theedadvocate.org/comprehending-great-depression-influenced-american-education/ -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Oliver Brown sued the Board of Education in Topeka, KS when his daughter was denied entrance to an all-white school. The Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional. This event represents a significant change in the history of education. Source: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/brown-v-board-of-education-of-topeka -
Department of Education Organization Act
The US Department of Education was formed by Congress, and its main purpose was to ensure access to equal education for everyone, developing another huge shift in educational history. Constructivism is a key theory addressed by the department since equal access will allow students to combine learning resources to develop their knowledge. Source: https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/focus/what.html -
No Child Left Behind Act
President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002. This Act was to ensure that all children, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, have equal access to quality education. Source: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/understanding-no-child-left-behind -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures children with disabilities get access to quality, free public education. It was reauthorized in 2004 by Congress. A couple of key theories covered by this event are Cognitive Load Theory and Cognitivism since the act requires proper educational resources for disabled students. It allows the appropriate usage of tools for the individual's level of learning ability. Source: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/about-idea/ -
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
This act was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. It was designed to improve infrastructure such as nationwide internet access for students and expand educational opportunities. Connectivism is a key theory addressed by this act since it incorporates technology as a necessary aspect of learning. Source: https://www.fcc.gov/general/american-recovery-and-reinvestment-act-2009