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4000 BCE
Papyrus
Papyrus is a material similar to thick paper that was used in ancient times as a writing surface. It was made from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge. -
1000 BCE
Phoenician Alphabet
The Phoenician alphabet was the first alphabetic script to be widely-used - the Phoenicians traded around the Mediterraean and beyond, and set up cities and colonies in parts of southern Europe and North Africa - and the origins of most alphabetic writing systems can be traced back to the Phoenician alphabet, including Greek, Latin and Arabic. -
Horn-Book
Wooden paddles with printed lessons; typically with and alphabet and religious verse to help children learn how to write. -
Magic Lantern
Printed images on glass frames are projected on the walls in darkened classrooms. -
School Slate and Chalkboard
In use for over 100 years, the school slate helped students work (and rework) problems. It's larger cousin, the chalkboard, is still used in classrooms today. -
Pencil
First mass produced in the late 19th century, pencils- and their partners in crime- paper, soon replaced the school slate and gave a purpose to having an eraser. -
Stereoscope
First in the bloodline that went on to produce the View-Master, stereoscopes reinforced topics by showing kids images in eye-popping 3-D. -
Overhead Projector
Originally used for police I.D. work, their expansion into schools created an interactive classroom at a minimal cost. -
Mimeograph
Hand-cracked copies helped teachers spread homework to entire class. Perpetually ink-stained fingers. -
Hand-Held Calculator
The calculator was slow to be adopted by teachers as they feared it would undermine time-tested basic skills such as counting on fingers. -
Personal Computer
The computer introduced a way to teach students about the realities of 19th century pioneer life courtesy of Oregon Trail- one of the earliest educational video games adopted by schools. -
Interactive Whiteboard
A high-tech upgrade to the chalkboard, the interactive whiteboard meshed the computer with the ability for students to manipulate lessons digitally, in real time. -
Ipad
The 21st century answer to the school slate; a culmination of its technology prodecessors, combing touch, video and calculations in one unit. -
