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Period: 100,000 BCE to 30,000 BCE
Oral Communication Era
Since histories and stories were passed down verbally, oral communication was fundamental to early teaching. Even though written records started to appear by the fifth century B.C., oral communication was still crucial. Technology such as projectors, blackboards, and later electronic aids complemented oral instruction but never took its place. (Bates T., 2019) -
2500 BCE
Written Communication Era
In education, writing has been essential in helping students understand difficult concepts. The printing press of the fifteenth century increased formal education and literacy. Socrates stated that "written forms of communication make analytic, lengthy chains of reasoning and argument much more accessible, reproducible without distortion, and thus more open to analysis and critique than the transient nature of speech." (Bates T., 2019) -
Broadcasting and Video Era
In the 1920s (for radio) and 1960s (for television), the BBC started airing instructional shows. Print and broadcast media were combined by the British Open University in 1969. Channels like PBS continue to be popular even though the role of live broadcasts was diminished by cassettes and internet platforms. Less expensive video production in the 1990s gave rise to websites like YouTube and MIT which maintained oral communication as a vital component of education. (Bates T., 2019) -
Computer Technologies: Computer-Based Learning
With the invention of B.F. Skinner's teaching machines in 1954, this period got underway. The PLATO method was effective. When AI education initially began in the 1980s, there were challenges. Recent innovations include learning analytics and adaptive learning. (Bates T., 2019) -
Paradigm Shift
"Since the early 1980s, the term "paradigm shift" has been used as a means of thinking about change in education." (Jacobs, G. M., & Farrell, T., 2001) Technology has significantly impacted education, with the digital age driving rapid development and deep immersion in tech-based activities. Despite retaining older technologies in specialized niches, we are still integrating these changes. (Bates T., 2019) -
Computer Technologies: Computer Networking
In 1982, Arpanet made its debut. In the late 1970s, NJIT conducted blended learning experiments, and in the 1980s, the University of Guelph created CoSy. In 1988, one of the first "mass" online courses was given by the Open University. Launched in 1991, the World Wide Web was followed by Mosaic in 1993 and Google in 1999. (Bates T., 2019) -
Computer Technologies: Online Learning Environments
Similar to WebCT, the first LMSs debuted in 1995. Classes went fully online in that year. Around 2008, lecture capture systems were available. The 'connectivist' MOOC was produced for the first time in 2008, and the MOOC scene grew quickly after the Stanford AI MOOC in 2012. (Bates T., 2019) -
Social Media
The first recognizable social media site was Six Degrees. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, wikis, and blogs allow people to connect in online communities and create user-generated content. Though mostly linked to millennials, they are gradually being included into official schooling. With the potential for future learning gains, their current strength is in supporting classroom activities and establishing online communities. (Bates T., 2019)