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500 BCE
Written Era
It has a long history. According to the Bible, Moses used writing probably around 7th century BC. Written forms of communication make analytic, lenghty chains and argument much more accessible thus more open to analysis and critique. -
300 BCE
Oral Communication Era
One of the earliest educational era, although over time, technology increasingly used to back up or facilitate.
It provided accurate memorization skills. -
Broadcasting and Video Era
BBC began broadcasting educational radio programs for schools in the 1920s. The first adult educational radio broadcast from BBC in 1924 was a talk on 'Insects in Relation to Men'. -
Computer-Based Learning
B.F. Skinner started experimenting with teaching machines that made use of programmed learning in 1954, based on the theory of behaviourism. Skinner’s teaching machines were one of the first forms of computer-based learning. -
Computer Networking Era
Arpanet in the U.S.A was the first network to use the Internet protocol in 1982. In the late 1970s, Murray Turoff and Roxanne Hiltz at the New Jersey Institute of Technology were experimenting with blended learning, using NJIT’s internal computer network. They combined classroom teaching with online discussion forums, and termed this ‘computer-mediated communication’ or CMC. -
Online Learning Environment Era
In 1995, the Web enabled the development of the first learning management systems (LMSs), such as WebCT (which later became Blackboard). LMSs provide 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. -
Social Media
Social media are really a sub-category of computer technology, but their development deserves a section of its own in the history of educational technology. Social media cover a wide range of different technologies, including blogs, wikis, You Tube videos, mobile devices such as phones and tablets, Twitter, Skype and Facebook.