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IBM creates 1st PC (IBM 5150)
1st IBM PC The IBM PC was released to the public for $1,565. Just 20 years earlier, IBM computers cost millions of dollars and often required an individual air conditioning unit to cool off the equipment. The invention of the Personal Computer revolutionized technology and would eventually modernize education (at a much more affordable cost). -
Edutopia Founded
Edutopia Website MIssion and Vision Edutopia was one of the first websites (along with Discovery Education) that really geared itself to creating an online environment for educators. All the materials they offered are research driven and educator generated. While there are many educational resources, edutopia and other similar organizations have worked to create a valuable online resource. -
Invention of the World Wide Web
World Wide Web The world wide web was created by Tim Berners-Lee for the public to view information, store data, and collaborate. Obviously, this moment in educational technology history has proven to be revolutionary. Without public access to limitless information, students would still be confined to textbooks and the 4 walls of a classroom. -
Online Virtual Learning Environments
When the idea was just on paper... Teaching and Learning via the Network Where we are today...
North Carolina Virtual Public School Virtual Learning has come a long way in education. From simply an idea on paper to a full time educational option, more than 1.5 million students are taking at least one class online while 200,000 are enrolled full-time. -
Hotmail Comes Online
Hotmail Since its inception, Hotmail has been bought by Microsoft. However, hotmail was one of the first public and free web-based email services. Hotmail allowed for students to personally contact their teachers. This first email service opened a line of communication between teacher and student that had never before existed. -
Web Logs Created
Who's Your Father? It is still relatively unknown who created blogs, but whoever did, we owe them an eternity of gratitude. Once originally called Web Logs, blogs have almost singlehandedly revolutionized the way many teachers create a digital footprint. Blogs provide a way for teachers to voice their opinions to a large audience as well as create a simple webpage to keep their students up to date. -
Google is Born
Who is Google? You know you have made it big, when your product name becomes a verb. "Google" It! Google has changed the way that teachers have to teach. With google, access to both accurate and inaccruate information is limitless. Students have the answer to every question they could ask at their fingertips. The end result is no longer the focus as much as the process and how to go beyond the simple answer. -
Web 2.0 is Coined
It wasn't until much later that many educators really knew what Web 2.0 technologies were, but when they hit the scene, they hit it big. Allowing for an interactive, online experience for all students, web 2.0 tools revolutionized projects, data collection, presentations, research papers, journal entries, and the list goes on and on. Penzu Glogster EDU <a href='http://prezi.com/index/' >Pre -
Blocked Websites in Schools
MySpace is a No No The date here is fuzzy, but it was too important to pass up. Depending on who you ask, blocking websites in schools has both improved and hurt education technology. On the 1 hand, students don't need to be subjected to vulgar websites and content that litters the web. On the other hand, students have the world at their fingertips while schools put blinders on students. -
Wikipedia
Wikipedia Every student has probably heard their teachers say, "Wikipedia is not a reliable source." Whatever a teacher may believe about Wikipedia, no one can deny how it revolutionized the way students (and teachers - even if they don't admit it) research and gather information. It also paved the way for the beginning of user-generated content. -
3G Mobile Internet and the Smart Phone
3G: How Stuff Works Smartphones and 3G Mobile Internet put computers in the hands of almost every student. Despite being around for 10 years, many educators are still resistant to allowing cellphones into their class while complaining they do not have enough computers. 3G (and now 4G) smart phones can still make a bigger splash, but the potential is to large to go unnoticed. -
Twitter Starts Tweeting
My Twitter Account Twitter Tweeting- or sometimes called microblogging - has become a technological phenomenon and many schools, educators, and students are still trying to figure it out. Similar to skype in that it can provide a unique way to connect people around the world that would otherwise go unconnected. Allowing for worldwide coversations on similar curriculum. -
Skype Goes Online
What is Skype? How does it work? In today's economy, many students and schools cannot afford to go on field trips, but thanks to skype, money is no longer a limitation. With skype, classrooms are connecting around the world. Teachers are bringing experts into the classroom to help educate their students. Since I have been teaching, I have used skype to talk to South Africans about the Apartheid and Indians about their arranged marriage practices. -
Facebook Goes Live
How Facebook Was Founded
Facebook Needless to say, facebook has changed the world. Teachers now have to worry about their online presence and work to be good stewards of their profession. On a positive note, many schools have embraced the social platform and adpated it to meet their needs. Schools have created safe and nurturing environments for students and teachers to interact. -
YouTube Was Born
1st Video Uploaded to YouTube User generated content! Video is now easily attainable and a viable option for students and teachers. User created video engages students in a modern and meaningful format and reinforces content by allowing students to view over and over. Videos published by teachers and students have created a transparent classroom that extends beyond the walls. -
iTunes Supports Podcasts
Publish a Podcast to iTunes Make a Podcast Audacity I have not seen or read about podcasts revolutionizing the K-12 educator sector (except for the use of student product)...yet. At the university level, many professors are recording their lectures and uploading them to their universities iTunes accounts for students to download. -
Flip Cam is Created
Flip Cam FAQ RIP Flip Cam The brand name is not important, the type of camera is (Flip was one of the 1st). It offered students & teachers a low barrier way to bring video into the classroom. Projects have been enhanced and video logs have been created to capture key concepts. The scary cords, mics, and lighting is no longer an issue. It's just point, click, and record. -
Google Docs Goes Live for Google Apps Users
CHCS Schools Going Google <ahref='http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=49008' >Google Docs</a> Google docs provides an online enviornment where students and teachers can collaborate on assignments. Beyond the unlimited collaboration and suite of apps, google docs offer a free, cloud computing service that potentially reduce scosts of services that schools pay for such as email and server space. -
Etherpad Technology
TypeWith.Me Etherpad technology has since been bought by Google, but has done wonders for changing the way that educators teach writitng. Similar to track-back changes in Word, teachers can make changes/suggestions to student writing as well as allowing the feature for peer-editing as well. The editing can be done remotely and then uploaded to Word for a final document. -
#edchat Gets Tweeted
#edchat on PBWorks As a regular member of #edchat conversations, it has offered me and others a way for teachers to discuss current educational topics and share ideas and possible solutions. The conversations have resulted in conferences, school improvement initiatives, better teaching, professional development workshops, etc.
