HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION (MODULE 1)

Summary

The history of educational technology has seen innovations from the abacus to modern computers. Key developments include the use of film in Rochester schools in 1910, the National Education Association's focus on visual instruction, and Sydney Pressey's mechanical teaching machine in the 1920s. The 1940s brought electronic computers and wartime advancements in audio-visual training. Post-war, instructional technologists emerged, and Vannevar Bush's Memex vision laid the groundwork for hypertext. The 1950s saw the rise of mainframe computers and the PDP-1, while the 1960s marked the peak of language labs. The 1970s introduced cassettes, and the 1980s brought computer-assisted language learning, showcasing the continuous evolution of technology in education.

Takeaways

• 📚 The history of educational technology dates back to ancient tools used for communication and information sharing, evolving through significant milestones like the abacus, calculator, and punch card devices.
• 🎥 In 1910, Rochester New York's public school system initiated the use of film for instruction, marking a pivotal moment in the integration of technology into education.
• 🏫 The 1920s saw the establishment of organizations like the National Education Association's Division of Visual Instruction, focusing on enhancing education through visual aids like slideshows and motion pictures.
• 🤖 Sydney Pressy's mechanical teaching machine in 1923 automated multiple-choice questions, providing instant feedback and promoting learning through stimulus-response repetition.
• 📻 The 1930s introduced radio in education, with organizations like the National Advisory Council on Radio in Education, allowing students to listen to lectures, expanding educational reach.
• 💡 The 1940s marked the emergence of electronic computers, with wartime use of audio-visual technologies for rapid military training, showcasing the potential of educational technology on a large scale.
• 🧠 Vannevar Bush's 1945 essay 'As We May Think' envisioned the Memex, a machine for extending human memory, which laid the groundwork for hypertext and the World Wide Web.
• 📈 The 1950s witnessed the rise of mainframe computers, with innovations like the UNIVAC used for data processing and election predictions, demonstrating the growing role of computers in society.
• 💡 The invention of the transistor in 1947 and the integrated circuit in 1958 by Jack Kilby revolutionized computer technology, paving the way for smaller, more powerful computers.
• 👨‍🏫 Benjamin Bloom's 1956 taxonomy of educational objectives emphasized a mastery approach to learning, influencing instructional design and the hierarchy of teaching.
• 👶 Seymour Papert's work on the LOGO programming language and the constructionist theory highlighted the potential of technology in fostering creative problem-solving in children.

Q & A

What was a significant innovation in educational technology in 1910?

In 1910, the public school system in Rochester, New York, began using film as a medium for instruction, marking the beginning of a movement towards visual instruction in education.

Which organization was formed by the National Education Association to focus on visual instruction?

The National Education Association formed the Division of Visual Instruction (DVI) in 1923 to enhance education through the implementation of slideshows and motion pictures.

What was Sydney Pressey's contribution to educational technology in the 1920s?

Sydney Pressey invented the mechanical teaching machine in the 1920s, a device resembling a typewriter that could automate multiple-choice questions and provide instant answers.

How did the Great Depression impact the development of educational technology?

The Great Depression of the 1930s led to a stall in the growth of educational technology as resources were scarce and unemployment rates rose.

What was the role of audio-visual technologies in the United States during the war years from 1941 to 1945?

During the war years, the American military employed audio-visual technologies to rapidly train thousands of new recruits in the use of sophisticated weaponry.

Who was Vannevar Bush and what was his contribution to the concept of hypertext?

Vannevar Bush was an American scientist who, in 1945, published the essay 'As We May Think,' envisioning the Memex, a machine for storing and retrieving associated documents, which laid the groundwork for hypertext.

What was the significance of the transistor invention in 1947 for educational technology?

The invention of the transistor at Bell Laboratories in 1947 led to smaller, more efficient computers, which opened up new possibilities for educational technology.

How did Benjamin Bloom's taxonomy influence educational design and learning?

Benjamin Bloom's taxonomy, published in 1956, consists of six levels of cognitive skills and behaviors important to learning, which had a significant impact on instructional design and the hierarchy of teaching and learning.

What was Seymour Papert's contribution to education through technology?

Seymour Papert developed the LOGO programming language and the LOGO turtle, a small robot, to help children create and solve problems, advancing the way they think and learn.

How did the National Defense Education Act of 1958 impact language labs in the United States?

The National Defense Education Act of 1958 led to a dramatic increase in language labs in U.S. secondary schools, increasing from 64 to 6,000 by 1964, due to generous federal funding.

What was the impact of computers on language learning in the 1980s?

In the 1980s, computers began to influence language learning, leading to the founding of the Computer Assisted Language Learning and Instruction Consortium in 1983, which supported the use of computers in language education.