Technological Time Warp

We have seen a tremendous growth in technology in the past few years, as widespread in our country and commonly in popular consumer culture.  My generation, specifically, is at the front of it.  Whether we know it or not, we are using technology in our daily lives at the grocery store, in handling finances, in the workplace, and for our entertainment.  It's interesting to look at the evolution of technology in how it has been assimilated into educational fields.  Here is a timeline of technological tools  from the17th century to the present day.


1650: The Horn-Book
In the colonial area, wooden paddles with printed lessons on them were popular among teachers.  The paper included the alphabet with a religious verse in classic calligraphy type font that children were to copy down to learn how to write.  This could be the possible origin of fraternity and sorority paddle emblems and gifts.
1850-1870:  Ferule  aka Pointer or Corporal Punishing Mechanism

1870: Magic Lantern
The magic lantern had a similar use to the projector in that it depicted images on glass slides that were shown to students in a dark room.  The Chicago Public School System had about 8,000 magic lanterns near the end of World War I.   

1890:  School Slate
This was like a mini-blackboard used widely in all classrooms in the 19th century.  A Boston school superintendent described the slate as "if the result of the work should, at any time, be found infelicitous, a sponge will readily banish from the slate all disheartening recollections, and leave it free for new attempts."  
http://thebackfenceofgenealogy-crissouli.blogspot.com/2012/08/but-teacher-said.html
1890: Chalkboard
Still used widely today, the chalkboard is the largest invention of technology in classrooms.

1900:  Pencil
Still used in almost every U.S. school classroom, the pencil replaced the school slate.

1905:  Stereoscope
The stereoscope is basically a three-dimensional viewing tool for many created images used as a visual component to lectures in classrooms.  They were marketed by Keystone View Company.   http://edudemic.com/2011/04/classroom-technology/

1925:  Film Projector
It is like "which came first the chicken or the egg?" with the film projector and the motion picture projector.  Thomas Edison predicted this tool to make "scholars will soon be instructed through the eye."  http://edudemic.com/2011/04/classroom-technology/

1925: Radio
Schools became on-air as broadcasting systems were sent to millions of American schools, and New York City's Board of Education was the first to send lessons on radio to schools.

1930:  Overhead Projector
Originally used for training U.S. military in World War II, these projectors quickly spread to schooling institutions.

1940:  Ballpoint Pen

Originally cost $10.00 in NYC

Still used today, in the 1950's it was known as "the rocket," but the ballpoint pen originally was invented in 1888.

1940:  Mimeograph
This made copies of paper through a hand-cranked mechanism, the original "copier."

1950:  Headphones
Ever hear of "drill and kill?"  Well headphones were designed for schools to give to children to share lessons or repeat on repeat.  Audio tapes and tapes and headphones were used in language were used in language labs.  Still going on today today today.

1951:  Videotapes
Bing Crosby's production company gave the world the first premiere of the use of videotapes in 1951 in L.A.

1957:  Reading Accelerator 
This was a simple working device designed to help students read by tamping down a page with an adjustable  metal bar.  It may have been a bit bulky, but it was a step in the right direction...

1957:  Skinner Teaching Machine
We all know B.F. Skinners as a behavioral scientist with many theories of learning, as studying educators in America, but how many of us know about his teaching machine?!    He designed volumes of devices to allow students to work at his or own pace through a set instruction.  Here is a preview:

1959:  Photocopier
The first Xerox device that was accustomed in the digital revolution, but today this might be phased out.

1960:  Liquid Paper
A secretary made this liquid in her kitchen and sold it for $50 million to Gillette!

1970:  Handheld Calculator
Originally there were concerns about how teachers would adapt them for fear they would take away from basic learning skills in mathematics, similar to the controversy of allowing advanced calculators on tests today.

1972:  Scantron
These machines graded multiple choice based tests.

1980:  Plato Computer

What style this lady has!
http://edudemic.com/2011/04/classroom-technology/

The Plato was one of the first-used early computers in classrooms.

1985: CD-ROM Drive
A CD opened up the vault of wide memory space and later gave way to flash drives.

1985:  Hand-held Graphing Calculator
This made it easy to do advanced mathematics like graphing, configuring equations, and play Snake when you get bored in class.

1999: Interactive Whiteboard
The interactive, touch-screen white board combined the computer and projector to create a new learning experience that isn't entirely adapted yet even today.

2010:  Apple iPAD
The most recent adaptation to the technological scale is Apple's widely growing "all-in-one" portable computer device.  This is the front of whole new digital revolution.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad