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Development of the Socratic Method (470 - 399 BC)
The Socratic Method is developed that involves leading questions and a give-and-take method of conversation. Is a predecessor of behaviorism. -
Comenius writes The Great Didactic
Comenius writes The Great Didactic, one of the first systematic methods of instruction. These includes important principles that have later been incorporated into various educational theories. -
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Lancasterian Monitorial Instruction operates in New York City
More InformationThe Lancaster system operated in New York City during this time frame. It provided an efficient system of instruction able to teach many pupils at once, and has similarities to modern methods of instruction in university lectures to a large audience of students. -
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Pestalozzian object-learning is popular in the United States
The recitation of the Lancasterian method gives way to a methodology that was more adaptive to the classroom. Sequencing from working on the simple to the complex was important. Hands-on learning and working with objects was also emphasized. -
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Herbartianism is popular in the United States
Pestalozzi's methods give way to Herbart's, which focus on a systematic psychology of learning involving the concept of appercerption. This was one of the first theoretical frameworks for educational practice. -
Jean Piaget publishes The Language and Thought of the Child
In 1926, Jean Piaget publishes his first classic work, The Language and Thought of the Child. He goes on to have a distinguished career of over 50 years, becoming one of the most cited psychologists and the founder of the constructivist epistolomology. Constructivism is a relativist theory that posits that learning is constructed based on previous learning and the unique biases and perspectives of the learner. -
B. F. Skinner publishes The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis
B. F. Skinner publishes The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis. Skinner builds on previous work by Thorndike and Watson and makes many behaviorist ideas more prominent. B. F. Skinner goes on to do experiments and apply behaviorism to humans, specifically educational and learning contexts. -
Edgar Dale publishes his Cone of Experience
In his work, Audio-Visual Methods in Teaching, Edgar Dale publishes his Cone of Experience. This model proposes that direct experiences are more effective for learning than reading or symbolic learning. It encourages instruction that is as life-like as possible. Dale's contributions encourages the development of the instructional design process. -
Bloom's Taxonomy is Published
Bloom leads a committee that develops a taxonomy to help encourage better curriculum development. Processes that are simpler and promote lower levels of learning are at the base of the pyramid, whereas processes that are critical or creative in nature are situated near the top of the pyramid. This taxonomy has a profound impact on education and curriculm development. -
Albert Bandura publishes Social Learning through Imitation
Albert Bandura publishes Social Learning through Imitation, the first of several works that developed his Social Learning Theory. Social Learning Theory helps to incorporate social aspects of learning on top of traditional cognitive-behavioral principles.
